The well-known and popular Cottet thermometer structure in Portal de l’Àngel, finished its renovation stage. For more than 90 days it was covered by a tarpaulin, and until now it is back to dial the temperature recovering its functionality since 2019, when it stopped operating.
Now the 22-meter-high, 2,000-kilogram structure has been repaired and remodeled to make it more modern and energy-efficient.
It is worth noting that this became the largest thermometer in Europe for years. At present it is only in Spain, as a larger one was built in Copenhagen and there is another similar one in Frankfurt.
The current owners are the City Council and an investment fund based in Valencia, who kept their promise to preserve this flagship element of the commercial thoroughfare.
Cottet optics was the company that gave this structure to the city and its inhabitants in gratitude for the welcome received by Barcelona and also as an advertising strategy.
The brothers Renato, Rolando and Fernando Cottet, owners of the chain of opticians’ shops, were the ones who came up with the idea. In fact, they were inspired by other thermal meters they had seen in some European cities in order to draw attention to their business.
After a year of construction, the thermometer was inaugurated on February 25, 1956 in the middle of a strong cold wave in Barcelona. In addition, ehe thermometer was also awarded the “Small Urban Landscape” plaque.
The giant Cottet thermometer at Portal de l’Àngel
Its rehabilitation was carried out in the midst of the renovation of the Cottet store building, which will henceforth house offices and stores.
What many are wondering is that in the wake of recent climate change
recent climatic changes
the thermometer’s spectrum of measurement (from 40°C to -5°C) will fall short.
In this regard, it should be recalled that in 2009 the thermometer stopped working due to technical problems that required its repair. This repair was carried out by the Municipal Institute of Urban Landscape and cost about 70,000 euros.
At the time, the iconic structure debuted energy-saving LED lamps that replaced the 710 neon tubes. In this way, not only did it consume less energy, but also the temperature marked in red could be more visible.
On the ground (at the base of the structure), a plaque was placed accrediting it as an element of the Petit Paisatge de Barcelona.
In addition, the thermometer complements its sensors with the installation of a barometer and a hygrometer on the side of the building’s façade.
These two instruments complement the meteorological information, indispensable for measuring atmospheric pressure and relative humidity respectively.
Nice return to this iconic structure!
