Dipòsit de les Aigües del Parc de la Ciutadella, Water tank and academic library in La Vila Olímpica del Poblenou, Spain.
The Dipòsit de les Aigües is a former water tank in the Parc de la Ciutadella, now a library and heritage site. The structure has a rectangular plan with parallel arches rising about 14 meters high, brick walls, and corner towers spanning roughly 4,500 square meters.
Built between 1874 and 1880, the structure served as a water tank for the park and was designed by José Fontseré. During his studies, the young Gaudí helped with the structural calculations, making it an early example of his engineering work.
The building's name refers to its origins as a water reservoir, and visitors can still recognize its industrial past in the design. Today people use it as a library, which has brought new life to the historic structure without erasing what came before.
The building is located near Carrer Ramon Trias Fargas and is easily accessible by public transportation. Visitors should note that the interior spaces are well-lit and accessible during library hours.
Inside there is a hypostyle room where supporting walls transform into columns, creating an open space without traditional partitions. The layout with discontinuous mezzanines for reading areas comes directly from the original 1870s-1880s design.
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