When it was built in 1988, it was the tallest building in Madrid. For 20 years the Picasso Tower It maintained the lead with its 45 plants and 157 meters high. Until the 4 towers of the CTBA financial complex (Cuatro Torres Business Area) between 2007 and 2009 and suddenly it became too small. However, for us it is still one of the most elegant skyscrapers in Madrid.

The land on which the tower was built, about 10.000 square meters that belonged to Unión de Explosivos Río Tinto, was part of the AZCA complex (acronym for Mixed Compensation Association of Block A of the Paseo de la Castellana Commercial Zone) designed to become the financial center of Madrid and Spain and which, after many vicissitudes, has been developing since the mid-60s of the XNUMXth century.
The architect was Yamasaki Minoru, an American of Japanese origin who won an international competition in 1977. He was the creator of the missing Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York that were inaugurated a few years earlier, in 1973. However, he was not able to see the work completed, died and was replaced by the architect Genaro Alas.
The tower has a mixed structure combining the reinforced concrete of the base with the metal pillars that run through the building until its crown.
The exterior enclosure is made of glass and white aluminum. The verticality of the construction is marked by alternating bands of both materials from the lower part to the curved cornice that tops the building.
Yamasaki used simple elements on the exterior of the building that he used in several of his works, such as the Rainier Tower in Seattle, very similar to the Picasso Tower.
An intelligent building with a lot of technology inside to control its lighting, comfort and do it efficiently. With a control center that supervises the operation of the giant.

Sometimes we include the building in our Madrid of Cinema, Edward Noriega brings us here in the movie open eyes de Alejandro Amenábar, although we will not reveal what it is coming for, you will have to see the movie.
Unfortunately, you can't visit it, but just looking at it from the outside is worth it. On special occasions such as architecture week You can visit its heliport!!, the views are incredible.

A abrazo.