BARCELONA WORLD CAPITAL OF ARCHITECTURE 2026
Barcelona is a city of architecture, renowned for the beauty and uniqueness of its buildings and for its ability to combine heritage and innovation. In this context, concrete has become a key material in shaping its contemporary architecture, providing technical, expressive, and sustainable solutions.
From public facilities to infrastructures and urban projects, concrete is part of the city’s architectural language and helps create functional, durable spaces that are integrated into their surroundings. This collection presents a selection of architectural works in Barcelona that make use of this material, along with a brief explanation of each project and the role it plays within them.
Colón Tower (Drassanes – Raval)
Authors: Josep Anglada Rosselló, Daniel Gelabert i Fontova, José Ribas i González and Emili Bordoy Alcántara.
Concrete as structural “muscle”: the load-bearing structure is reinforced concrete, with a grid of columns and a central core; the base combines glass with textured concrete panels that “dress” the tower.
Image: Michelangelo-36, 2007 (Wikipedia)
Atalaya Tower (Diagonal / Sarrià – Les Corts)
Authors: Frederic Correa + Alfons Milà (Correa–Milà).
Concrete as system: reinforced concrete structure with flat slabs without beams, and curtain wall enclosures using prefabricated elements and artificial stone (a very “industrial-elegant” aesthetic of the time).
FAD Award (1971)
Image: Enric, 2017 (Wikipedia)
Guineueta Market (Nou Barris)
Authors (original project): Josep Anglada, Daniel Gelabert and Josep Ribas (AGR). Later renovation: Daniel Mòdol (according to local catalogue).
Concrete as language: structure and material expression where concrete (and its joints/reliefs) constructs the building’s image. The enclosure with circular honeycomb-like “oculi” (repeated modules/pieces) transforms a humble typology into a monumental object.
FAD Awards finalist 1965
Image: Daniel Mòdol Deltell, 2010 (Wikipedia)
Meridiana Housing
Authors: MBM (Bohigas–Martorell–Mackay).
Concrete as “exposed” structure: the building is organized through a structural system of concrete walls, arranging the layout and bays with almost didactic clarity.
Image: Marisa LR, 2007 (Wikipedia)
Joan Miró Foundation (Montjuïc)
Author: Josep Lluís Sert.
Concrete as “Mediterranean béton brut”: exposed concrete is used, treated to appear white; even the imprint of the formwork is valued (texture as part of the project). Sequence of spaces, courtyards and skylights: brutalism without aggressiveness, rather luminous and tactile.
Image: Robertgombos, 2018 (Wikipedia)
COAC Headquarters (Ciutat Vella)
Author: Xavier Busquets i Sindreu (competition-winning project).
Concrete in the interior: the reinforced concrete frieze supports sgraffito works linked to Picasso: structure + art. Technological modernity inserted in front of the cathedral: the contrast (glass/stone/concrete) is part of the urban manifesto.
Image: Enric, 2021 (Wikipedia)
Walden 7 (Sant Just Desvern)
Author: Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura (RBTA), 1975.
Concrete as megastructure: logic of aggregated modules (vertical city) where the heavy material allows stacking, hollowing and stitching interior courtyards; concrete makes the habitable labyrinth possible. Widely documented and recognized as a key piece of late modernity.
Image: Jordi Ferrer (Wikipedia)
La Fàbrica (Sant Just Desvern)
Author (conversion): RBTA; intervention on a former cement factory (1973).
Concrete as industrial archaeology: silos, galleries and industrial elements reinterpreted; the project shows how concrete can be domesticated with light, voids and vegetation.
City of Barcelona Architecture Prize (1980)
Image: Till F. Teenck, 2007 (Wikipedia)
Three Chimneys (Sant Adrià de Besòs)
Author: industrial infrastructure with no known author
Concrete as metropolitan icon: the chimneys are made of concrete, and their scale turns the material into landscape. Built in the 1970s, operational until 2011; currently undergoing redevelopment (Catalunya Media City and new urban waterfront).
Image: Kent Wang, 2024 (Wikipedia)
AUDIOVISUAL DOCUMENTATION
The actions of the sector, in images and videos
Here you will find a selection of graphic resources and visuals related to the activity of Ciment Català which you can download in high resolution for publication. We would be grateful if you could cite the origin when you use them.
INFORMATIVE VIDEOS
INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES
CASA Catalunya meeting with the ERC parlimentary group 11-23-2022
Author: Ciment Català
Incorporation of Ciment Català to the Commission for the expansion of the airport 3-10-2022
Author: Ciment Català
Meeting with Natalia Mas, general director of Industry of the Generalitat 6-28-2022
Author: Ciment Català
Work session with the Minister of Business and Labor Roger Torrent 11-1-2023
Author: Generalitat de Catalunya
Visit of the ARC and the DGQA to the Santa Margarida y els Monjos factory 27-1-2022
Author: Ciment Català
Visit of the Secretary of Territory and Mobility of the Generalitat Isidre Gavín to the Alcanar factory 10-11-2021
Author: Ciment Català
Meeting of the Board of Directors of Ciment Català with the President of Foment del Treball Josep Sánchez llibre 10-19-2021
Author: Ciment Català
Meeting with the President of the Port de Barcelona Damià Calvet 10-9-20219
Author: Port de Barcelona
Visit of the Minister Àngels Chacón to the Montcada i Reixac factory 6-28-2019
Author: Ciment Català
Meeting of the Board of Directors with the Director Damià Calvet 19-3-2019
Author: Ciment Català
Meeting of the Board of Directors with the Vice President of the Generalitat Oriol Junqueras 3-29-2017
Author: Ciment Català
Board meeting with the Minister Jordi Baiget 04/28/2016
Author: Ciment Català
Board meeting with Conseller Xavier Mena 17-9-2012
Author: Ciment Català
Visit of the Board of Directors to the President of the Generalitat Carles Puigdemont 28-6-2016
Author: Jordi Bedmar
Visit of the Board of Directors to the President of the Generalitat Artur Mas 29-8-2012
Author: Jordi Bedmar
Board meeting with Counselor Andreu Mas-Colell 28-3-2011
Author: Ciment Català
Meeting with the Director of the Waste Agency of Catalonia 27-6-2011
Author: Ciment Català
Board meeting with Counselor Joaquim Nadal 29-12-2009
Author: Ciment Català
Meeting with the General Director of Environmental Quality of Catalonia 15-3-2011
Author: Ciment Català
Meeting with the Director of the Catalan Water Agency 30-6-2011
Author: Jordi Bedmar
WORK GROUPS
1st Commission for the Follow-up of the Second Voluntary Agreement 2-3-2011
Author: Ciment Català
Plan of Air Quality in Catalonia 6-5-2011
Author: Ciment Català
CASA Cataluña 26-9-2011
Author: Ciment Català
Aggregates work group 24-2-2011
Author: Ciment Català
Mining Roundtable 11-5-2010
Author: Ciment Català
EVENTS
VI Technical Seminar of Ciment Català 4-6-2010
Author: Ciment Català
Efficient Driving Conference 12-4-2016
Author: Ciment Català
CO2 Generalitat Conference 13-5-2015
Author: Ciment Català
Agreement MNACTEC 13-6-2012
Author: Ciment Català
Anchoring in Sitges of artificial marine reefs of concrete 17-6-2010
Author: Ciment Català
Anchoring in Sitges of artificial marine reefs of concrete (2) 17-6-2010
Author: Ciment Català
PEOPLE
Antoni Crous Millet, President of Ciment Català 2001-2010
Author: Ciment Català
Àngel Cercós Casalé, President of Ciment Català 2010-2016
Author: Ciment Català
Salvador Fernández Capo, President of Ciment Català since 2016
Author: Ciment Català
CORPORATE IDENTITY
Ciment Català logo (JPG)
Author: Ciment Català
CIMENT CATALA logo (Vectorial: .ai)
Author: Ciment Català
Ciment Català logo symbol
Author: Ciment Català
INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES
Cement silos – Sant Vicenç dels Horts factory
Author: Ciment Català
Cyclone tower – Sant Vicenç dels Horts factory
Author: Ciment Català
Vertical mill of raw mix – Factory of Sant Vicenç dels Horts
Author: Ciment Català
Cement cargo cranes for boats – Port of Alcanar
Author: Fco Márquez
LafargeHolcim Quarry in Montcada i Reixac
Author: Ciment Català
Kiln – Factory of Santa Margarita i els Monjos
Author: Ciment Català
Control Room – Factory of Alcanar
Author: Fco Márquez