Barcelona is hosting the World Congress of the International Union of Architects, which places the city at the center of debates to re-read it and turn it into an example of architecture and urbanism.

The capital status also represents a look to the past towards a city where water heritage is the vestige of a great transformation and is a reference today. Veolia, through Aigües de Barcelona, has contributed to building Barcelona, engaging with its heritage and its cultural activity.

For this reason, from the Museu de les Aigües de Veolia, we want to recommend that you experience this legacy firsthand, in the form of water heritage, but also this involvement in architecture and culture.

Museu de les Aigües (Cornellà Water Station)

It is the ideal starting point for understanding the symbiosis between industry and aesthetics. Located in a modernist enclosure designed by the architect Josep Amargós i Samaranch, this space is a living example of how 19th-century industrial architecture knew how to dignify basic infrastructure.

Strolling through its exposed brick halls and admiring the steam machinery is an immersive experience that reminds us of the technical challenge of moving water. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit this oasis of history and technology during the congress.

A visit also offers an approach to one of Antoni Gaudí’s first constructions, the Cascada Gaudí, a fountain that sought to introduce nature into architectural spaces through water, understood not only as an aesthetic element but also as one of well-being. Visit! 

Culture and Future: The Architecture of Virtual Water

Veolia supports Benedetta Tagliabue to promote new cultural expressions that invite us to reflect through “The Architecture of Virtual Water,” a proposal that explores the water footprint and the invisible management of water in a globalized world. It can be seen at Roca Barcelona Gallery. Visit!

El Torreón del Tibidabo

This water tower, located at the top of the mountain, is much more than a reservoir: it is a visual landmark that dominates the Barcelona skyline. Built to guarantee supply pressure in the high areas of the city, the Torreón combines functionality with a monumental design that dialogues with the Temple of the Sacred Heart and the amusement park.

We invite you to observe this key piece of engineering from an architectural perspective, understanding how the management of altitude defined the city’s profile. Visit!

La Torre de les Aigües de l’Eixample

This tower, hidden inside a block of the Cerdà Plan, is one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Originally conceived to supply housing in the new Eixample, today it has been transformed into a space for citizen coexistence.

Its brick structure is testimony to the Barcelona that grew with the illusion of modernity and urban hygiene. Visiting it is understanding the transition from private infrastructure to public and social space. Visit!

The Aqueducts of Llobregat, Dosrius, and Vallès

The architecture of water is also the architecture of the landscape. The aqueducts of Llobregat, Dosrius, and Vallès are imposing structures that made it possible to overcome terrain unevenness to bring water from distant sources to the heart of Barcelona.

These works represent the victory of civil engineering over geography. Take advantage of the congress days to see these engineering jewels that still speak to us today of the magnitude of past water challenges. Visit! 

La Torre de les Aigües del Besòs

A key piece of the industrial silhouette of Poblenou, this brick tower is one of the most elegant structures of Barcelona’s industrial architecture. Veolia, in its commitment to the city, has contributed to preserving this element that symbolizes the spirit of innovation.

Its restoration is an example of excellence in heritage conservation, and a visit is mandatory for any lover of historical architecture. Visit!