Gratacel Urquinaona, Rationalist skyscraper in Sant Pere Santa Caterina i la Ribera, Spain.
The Gratacel Urquinaona is a residential tower with straight lines and functional design elements from the 1930s. The structure displays typical rationalist features with clean facades and minimal ornamentation.
Architect Luis Gutiérrez Soto completed this apartment tower in 1936, marking a turning point in Barcelona's urban development. Its completion fell during a period of intense architectural renewal in the city.
The building carries the designation of Cultural Asset of Local Interest and reflects how Barcelona's old quarter adopted modern construction methods. It shows how residents embraced vertical living in a traditionally low-rise medieval neighborhood.
The building sits in an older district with good access by multiple bus lines and metro stations nearby. The surrounding area is flat and easy to navigate, with many pedestrian zones and local services all around.
The building was one of the earliest high-rises in an area originally made up of low medieval structures. This early height made it a notable point in Barcelona's urban planning and architectural history.
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