Anella Olímpica

The major facilities consist of the Olympic Stadium, the Palau Sant Jordi sports hall, the telecommunications tower designed by Santiago Calatrava, the National Physical Education Institute (INEFC) and the Picornell swimming pools.

Surrounding areas were grass covered, and green plastic obscured the view of the near Montjuïc Cemetery.

The original plan was designed around the main square, Plaça d'Europa and the Olympic Stadium.

The communications tower echoed at first the tubular lamps dispersed in the "Anella" and (again) an ensemble of concrete and steel tubes, the elegant sculpture near Isozaki Arata's Palau Sant Jordi.

But then, the architect Santiago Calatrava lost a project in the city in the last minute and was commissioned weeks later to re-design the tower, now more futuristic, but maybe damaging the purity of the design.