Telefónica Building
40°25′12″N 3°42′07″W / 40.419992°N 3.701888°W
The Telefónica Building, in Spanish Edificio Telefónica, is a skyscraper in Madrid, Spain. It is situated in Gran Vía 28.
History
The Telefónica Building was designed by Ignacio de Cárdenas, who conceived it after a previous study of Lewis S. Weeks in Manhattan. Even though the building is of American inspiration[1], Cárdenas touch can be felt in its churrigueresque exterior ornamentation, a nod to Madrid Baroque architecture.
Its construction lasted from 1926 to 1929. The workforce was composed of more than 1000 workers and the final cost added up to 32 million pesetas. It became the first skyscraper in Europe.[2] 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.[3]
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 and John Dos Passos sent their reports from inside the premises.[4]
Skyline
The Telefonica Building rises to 89 meters. 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 centre, and its red lit clock has become a landmark at dusk and night. It prevails as the tallest building in Gran Vía, with the exception of Edificio España at the end of Gran Vía.
Nowadays
It currently hosts the Telefónica Flagship Store[5], a Telecommunications Museum and an auditorium.
References
- ^ Garcia Algarra, Javier (2010). "The American influence in Telefónica's public relations strategy during the 20's and 30's", IEEE HISTELCON 2010
- ^ "El primer rascacielos de Europa" (in Spanish). abc.es. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ "100 years of Gran Vía. Buildings. (In Spanish)". elmundo.es. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
- ^ "Telefónica Building, the first skyscraper in Europe (In Spanish)". elpais.com. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
- ^ "Fundación Telefónica. Gran Vía". Retrieved 7 April 2012.