BBVA Tower

Description

The BBVA Tower is one of the most iconic buildings in the city of Madrid, having won a competition organised by the bank in 1971, in which the most prestigious teams of architects of the time took part. Sáenz de Oíza’s project won out for its innovative technical and structural approach, which successfully embodied the image of modernity that the institution wished to project. The first challenge was to save the suburban train tunnel that ran directly underneath the site. To achieve this, Oíza proposed two structural cores, one on each side of the tunnel, to bear all the vertical loads of the building. He also chose a structure made of a mixture of concrete and metal. Every five storeys, large horizontal concrete girders form tray-shaped structures on which the upper floors rest. This allowed for open mezzanine floors with higher ceiling heights using smaller cross-section columns. The outer cover is completely independent of the structure, allowing it to be read without interruption. The formal expression of the building owes much to the characteristic technical walkways that run around the perimeter of the skyscraper, accentuating its rounded corners and acting as sunshades.Since its inception, this office skyscraper has epitomised the evolution of the AZCA district, which is destined to become the financial heart of the capital, mirroring the American business hubs. In 2000, it was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, and in 2018 Ruiz Barbarín Arquitectos carried out a respectful and successful renovation.