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Work from 1976 included in the Inventory of the Architectural Heritage of Catalonia. Designed by the architects Josep Maria Fargas and Enric Tous to be the headquarters of Banca Catalana. Later it was from BBVA, and later from the publishing group Planeta and currently from the investment fund Blackstone. It consists of four octagonal pieces joined together, one in the center of 3 floors and three of 9 floors in turn, with a built area of ​​27,000m2. Of note is the vertical landscaping designed by gardener Everest Munné, of 3.8 kilometers of planters that were originally hydroponic and covers the facades. The structure consists of two belts of planters, separated from the building by a corridor of 65 cm that has a metal grate on the ground. The planters are made of steel, with a trapezoidal section 50 cm wide by 53 cm high. The total length is 3,800 meters. The outer belt of planters is 32 cm above the inner belt, and the separation between them is 15 cm. The planters are painted white to reflect light. Inside, bricks were initially placed to encourage the evacuation of water, and a layer of volcanic gravel as a drainage layer. A polyester cloth was placed on top of the volcanic layer, and on a substrate consisting of a mixture of 30% peat, 25% expanded polystyrene and 45% volcanic gravel. A plastic mesh was introduced in the middle of the substrate to prevent the plants from being dragged by the wind, and a 10 cm layer of volcanic gravel was placed on top of the substrate. These 3.8 kilometers of planters were irrigated by a hydroponic system developed by doctors in biology Jordi Aguilà and Xavier Martínez. The system was a pioneer and deserving of recognition in the field of gardening and hydroponic crops around the world. The machinery that drives the irrigation system and fertilization tanks were located 5 floors underground; all this was watered by the drip system.


The plantation was carried out by the gardening companies Munné-Pericall and Pradell. Until his retirement a few years ago, Everest Munné took care of the maintenance and the only replanting that took place in 1994, when all the planters were emptied to waterproof and improve their drainage. When it was planted in 1978, 76 species of plants were introduced, of different characteristics according to the orientation and that bloomed at different times of the year. It was very interesting to see the adaptation of the species to height and light, as well as their adaptation to water quality and pests and diseases. Outside, some 12,000 plants belonging to 46 plant species are currently planted. Article from La Vanguardia by Silvia Burés on 03/04/2011 The first vertical garden in Barcelona?