Seven meters. That is how far the Mirador de Agulo extends above the void. Here at the Mirador de Agulo you are standing on the ridge of Abrante. It is 620 meters above sea level. Below you is a vertical drop of 200 meters.
The Mirador de Agulo opened on January 2 2013. It quickly became an iconic tourist landmark for La Gomera. The location was carefully chosen. It offers ideal conditions for a viewpoint. It also serves as a resting place for walkers.
What makes the Mirador de Agulo special is its overhang. You can see the floor and walls are made of structural glass. The glass is bound with a metal structure on top. This is supported by a reinforced concrete beam.
Before this structure existed a simple stone wall served as a parapet. But this new design gives a greater sense of vertigo. The developed land area covers 3150 square meters. The building itself covers 243.97 square meters.
Inside the Mirador de Agulo you will find tourist information. There is also a cafe. Here you can enjoy breathtaking views of the village of Agulo. You can also see the island of Tenerife with Mount Teide towering over the horizon.
The project was commissioned by the Directorate General of Tourism Infrastructure. This belongs to the Ministry of Tourism of the Canary Islands. The Architect Designer and works director was Jose Luis Bermejo Mr Martin.
In December 2009 the City of Agulo approved the project. They allocated 3150 square meters in the area known as El Mirador. This ensured the project aligned with local planning regulations. It fell under the category of rural Landscape Protection.
The design of the Mirador de Agulo includes three distinct zones. There is a parking and access area at height 0.00 m. A common garden area sits at the same elevation. The building site is ready at elevation -1.50 m.
Excavation was needed to create the current level of the work. About 2 meters of soil was removed. This reduced the building’s visual impact. The natural terrain has a reddish color due to lateritic soils. This contrasts with the gray basalt.
The foundation consists of a reinforced concrete slab 60 cm thick. Two rafters support the glass viewpoint. They extend into the void. One overhangs by 4.90 m and the other by 5.95 m.
The roof is made of sloping reinforced concrete slabs 30 cm thick. An additive makes the concrete waterproof. This additive reacts with moisture to form internal crystal structures.
The core of the building is accessed via gentle ramps. These meander through the gardens outside. The central core is made of rough concrete. The texture resembles wood.
Access doors are made of sliding Corten steel. These are specially designed not to encroach on internal spaces. Gates around the enclosure are also made of Corten steel.
The cliff side of the Mirador de Agulo is completely transparent. Laminated glass stretches from floor to ceiling. The cantilevered glass extends on all sides. It has a length of 7 meters. The glass is designed for static load and to prevent breakage.
The glass floor is made with four components of thermoset glass 10 mm thick. It weighs 100 kg per square meter. It has a non-slip treatment on its upper face.
Outside the Mirador de Agulo Corten steel of different sizes is arranged on the floor. Inside the building a kind of natural stone in gray is placed. This matches the shade of concrete.
The walls of the building are developed by reinforced concrete screens. A large area of the facade is closed with laminated glass. All glasses have sunscreen.
Remember to respect this unique environment. Do not litter and leave no trace. Enjoy the views of Agulo from the Mirador de Agulo.