Telefónica Building

The Telefónica Building, in Spanish Edificio Telefónica, is a skyscraper in Madrid, Spain. It is located in Gran Via 28.[1] At the time of construction it was the tallest European skyscraper with 89 m of roof height, until in 1940, when the Terrazza Martini Tower opened in Genoa.

Front view
Not to be confused with Distrito Telefónica.

Telefónica Building
Street view of the Telefónica Building from Red de San Luis Square
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeCommercial offices
LocationGran Via 28
CountryMadrid, Spain
Construction started1926
CompletedMarch 1929
Cost~32 million pesetas
Height
Roof89 metres (292 ft)
Technical details
Floor count14
Design and construction
Architect(s)Ignacio de Cárdenas

History

The Telefónica Building was designed by Ignacio de Cárdenas, who conceived it after a previous study of Louis S. Weeks in Manhattan. Even though the building is of American inspiration,[2] Cárdenas touch can be felt in its churrigueresque exterior ornamentation, a nod to Madrid Baroque architecture.

Aeriel view of Madrid in 1928. The Telefónica Building is on the bottom center.

Its construction started in 1926 and it was fully completed in March 1929, despite opening its doors officially on 1 January 1930.[3] The workforce was composed of more than 1000 workers and the final cost added up to 32 million pesetas. It became one of the first skyscrapers in Europe.[4] It also held the Madrid height record by surpassing the Palacio de la Prensa, which it maintained until it was overtaken in 1953 by the Edificio España.[5]

During the Spanish Civil War it was used as an observatory by the Republican forces to watch the whereabouts of Francoist troops. This reason, and the fact of being the Office of Foreign Press, made it a target of bombings during the war. Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry sent their reports from inside the premises, controlled by the Republican foreign press censhorship office, whose head was Arturo Barea.[3][6]

Skyline

The Telefónica Building rises to 89 metres. It comprises 14 high-ceiling floors plus a basement, a semibasement and a central tower, which is currently topped by mobile communication antennas. It can be seen from many places in Madrid city centre.

From 1967 to 2013,[7] its red lit clock has become a landmark at dusk and night. From 1 July 2013, the colour of the clock is blue to better accommodate the Telefónica corporate brand.[7] It prevails as the tallest building in Gran Vía, with the exception of Edificio España and the Torre de Madrid at the end of Gran Vía.

Nowadays

It currently hosts the Telefónica Foundation , a Telecommunications Museum and an auditorium. The Foundation hosts numerous art events and talks by renowned creators such as Vanessa Murrell, Johanna Jaskowska, Guillermo Arriaga, Afua Hirsch, Suzy Amis Cameron, Saskia Sassen and Richard Sennett.

References
  1. García Algarra, Javier (2012). "De Gran Vía al Distrito C. El patrimonio arquitectónico de Telefónica". Doctoral dissertation, UNED, 2012. (In Spanish)
  2. Garcia Algarra, Javier (2010). "The American influence in Telefónica's public relations strategy during the 20s and 30s", IEEE HISTELCON 2010
  3. Espacio Fundacion Telefonica. Guide delivered at Edificio Telefónica. 2013. pp. 23–25.
  4. "El primer rascacielos de Europa" [Europe's first skyscraper] (in Spanish). abc.es. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  5. "100 years of Gran Vía. Buildings. (In Spanish)". elmundo.es. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  6. "Telefónica Building, the first skyscraper in Europe (In Spanish)". elpais.com. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  7. "El reloj de Telefónica muda a azul (In Spanish)". elpais.com. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
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