Placa Fotovoltàica del Fòrum

This giant photovoltaic pergola is a major engineering project designed by two of the key players behind Barcelona's new architecture, Elías Torres and J. A. Martínez Lapeña. It was built to give impetus to renewable energies in the city.

The structure covers an area equivalent to a football pitch and stands 50 metres high. The sloping roof is underpinned by a distinctive forest of columns and has become a symbol of Barcelona's commitment to sustainability and preservation of the environment. It consists of one thousand panels that harness solar energy and prevent the emission of 440 tonnes of CO2 a year. The photovoltaic panels produce the same amount of electricity as 150 Barcelona households would consume in a year.