The 1992 Summer Olympic Games had a dramatic effect on Barcelona, not least in their architectural legacy. With its spatial dynamism and curvilinear energy, the Montjuic Telecommunications Tower built to transmit television coverage of the Games – has since become an iconic symbol of the Catalan city. The tower is in the heart of the Olympic park Santiago Calatrava.
The soaring structure reaches 136 m into the sky. For some observers it represents a kneeling figure making an offering, for others, an athlete holding the Olympic torch aloft. The figure is rooted in the tower base, which is covered in broken glazed tiles. This mosaic technique, known as trencadis, is employed in homeage to the work of Antonio Gaudi. Gaudi is the most prolific architect in the history of Barcelona.
The smooth arc at the top of the tower hides transmitting dishes, and the positioning of the structure is such that it also functions as a giant sundial. Multifunctional and beautiful, this masterpiece is wonderful addition to the eclectic architecture of Barcelona.
Source: misha