One of a kind

Hidden away in the interior of the Susqueda hydroelectric dam there is an extraordinary area known as "the hall of the columns". Hidden away in the interior of the Susqueda hydroelectric dam there is an extraordinary area known as "the hall of the columns".
Hidden away in the interior of the Susqueda hydroelectric dam there is an extraordinary area known as "the hall of the columns".

On 23 January 2018, I received a call from one of the workers saying that a man over 80 years old in a wheelchair was at the door of the Susqueda hydraulic power plant and that he wanted to visit it, without prior notice. But who was this person? Well, it was none other than Arturo Rebollo Alonso, the engineer who was responsible for projecting, designing and directing the building of this jewel of hydraulic engineering, a unique, futuristic work in a timeless style, for which, I have to confess, I feel an enormous admiration. I took a company car and went as fast as I could to meet him.

When I arrived, he was in the company of a carer and one of his children. He was sick and could hardly speak, but he made himself understood, he wanted to visit "his" work, so that's what we did.

The incredible wall of the Susqueda dam. The vault-shaped dam consists of six-centre arches generated from a central bracket with displacement upstream in the lower part, and downstream in the upper part. The incredible wall of the Susqueda dam. The vault-shaped dam consists of six-centre arches generated from a central bracket with displacement upstream in the lower part, and downstream in the upper part.
The incredible wall of the Susqueda dam. The vault-shaped dam consists of six-centre arches generated from a central bracket with displacement upstream in the lower part, and downstream in the upper part.
One of the columns of the extraordinary hall of columns in the Susqueda dam. One of the columns of the extraordinary hall of columns in the Susqueda dam.
One of the columns of the extraordinary hall of columns in the Susqueda dam.
One of the great treasures hidden away in the Susqueda dam is the incredible spiral staircase located in the hall of columns. One of the great treasures hidden away in the Susqueda dam is the incredible spiral staircase located in the hall of columns.
One of the great treasures hidden away in the Susqueda dam is the incredible spiral staircase located in the hall of columns.

During the tour there was a moment when he expressed displeasure at seeing a number of elements, equipment and tools (fire extinguishers, gas extractors etc.) that spoilt the visual aspect of the visit. He asked me why they were not stored away out of sight, as he had originally designed it. I explained that current safety regulations require them to be visible.

I also remember clearly the moment when we arrived at the foot of the helical staircase in the Hall of Columns in the Dam, built without any central support, a revolutionary feature at the time. This famous spiral staircase looks like you peeled an apple in a single peeling and held it up from one of the tips. When you look at it you wonder how did they build it, what supports it? 

“We arrived at the foot of the helical staircase in the dam, built without a central axis, a revolutionary feature at the time. This famous spiral staircase looks like you peeled an apple in a single peeling and held it up from one of the tips. When you look at it you wonder how did they build it, what supports it?”
Suspended water particles from the overflow channel of the Susqueda hydroelectric dam. Suspended water particles from the overflow channel of the Susqueda hydroelectric dam.
Suspended water particles from the overflow channel of the Susqueda hydroelectric dam.
Detail of the turbine of the Susqueda hydroelectric plant. Detail of the turbine of the Susqueda hydroelectric plant.
Detail of the turbine of the Susqueda hydroelectric plant.
The operations room in the hydroelectric plant. The operations room in the hydroelectric plant.
The operations room in the hydroelectric plant.

Well, before we started climbing up the stairs with him, Mr Rebollo said: "Just a moment, please." Then he broke down, and so did I. Tears were falling. "I never thought I would ever climb these stairs in a wheelchair," he told me. When he started out on this project, he was 26 years old and the world was at his feet, but when he was designing his great work he never thought that older people would be using it, even less people with mobility problems.

Being with Mr Rebollo that day left a deep impression. It was not the first time. In fact, it was one of quite a few occasions when I had the opportunity to enjoy his presence. But that particular time, for him it was like saying goodbye. He wanted to see his masterpiece just one last time.

A detail of one of the stairways that are part of the architectural work of the Susqueda hydroelectric dam. A detail of one of the stairways that are part of the architectural work of the Susqueda hydroelectric dam.
A detail of one of the stairways that are part of the architectural work of the Susqueda hydroelectric dam.
An architectural detail of the hydroelectric power plant. An architectural detail of the hydroelectric power plant.
An architectural detail of the hydroelectric power plant.

Architectural treasure

I am privileged. I work on an architectural treasure that few people get the chance to visit. But it took me a while to realise this. From the time I started working here in 1985, it took about ten years until I understood how extraordinary this Dam and this Hydraulic Power Plant are. I knew that some of the features of the construction were quite out of the ordinary, but the truth is that I did not understand them, I did not know how to look at and appreciate the beauty and aesthetics to be found in the multitude of industrial features, which did not interfere with each other, but actually combined perfectly.

I discovered this enthusiastically during another visit that also left an impression. Marino Estrada Ángel, an eminent hydraulic engineer who was referred to as "the Colombian master", came to visit the Dam on a trip he made to Europe to give a series of lectures. He taught me so much about the work of Arturo Rebollo and made me look at it with different eyes.

He aroused a number of concerns and provided me with unusual, technical data that had escaped me, because at that time I was not able to appreciate them. Bold lighting is one of them. The Susqueda Power Station is like a cavern and you have to pass through a gallery of about 200 metres to access the Main Hall. Arturo Rebollo designed this route with coloured fluorescent lights (which were recently replaced by LEDs).

Architectural detail of the Susqueda hydroelectric power plant. Architectural detail of the Susqueda hydroelectric power plant.
Architectural detail of the Susqueda hydroelectric power plant.

Bold lighting system

All I saw was how difficult they were to maintain, the need to place scaffolding and platforms, because the lights are attached to the wall, but there is a reason for the choice of each of the colours that make this gallery unique, even if I did not know it. So, after a few minutes, I proposed to the Colombian maestro that we go and see the dashboard and he told me to wait.

He spent some time admiring the lights and I asked him: "But what do you see?" "Quite an achievement," he replied. "What do you mean by quite an achievement?" I asked, not understanding what was special about the lighting. That was when he explained that blue represents the purest water; green, water, depending on the time of year, when it contains algae; yellow, when it carries sediments. And the shades increase in density until they reached red, which symbolises the maximum splendour of electricity

“To get to the plant you go 200 metres through a gallery illuminated with coloured lights: Blue represents water, green too, when it carries sediments, and that the tones increased in density until they reached red, which symbolises the maximum splendour of electricity”.
The offices of the Susqueda hydroelectric power plant. The offices of the Susqueda hydroelectric power plant.
The offices of the Susqueda hydroelectric power plant.

This visit gave meaning to something that before had no meaning, at least for me. In fact, my office is 12 kilometres from the Dam and 4 kilometres from the Power Station and, since then, whenever I go to check if a job has been done properly, in accordance with the preventive security measures established, or in what condition the installations are, I take a little time to observe some of the features, such as the simulation of prehistoric drawings, sculpted in relief on iron and that can be found in the Main Hall of the Power Station and that explain construction process for the Dam and the Power Station until that joyful moment when it began to produce energy. 

A great jet of water flowing strongly off the overflow channel at the Susqueda Hydroelectric Power Plant. A great jet of water flowing strongly off the overflow channel at the Susqueda Hydroelectric Power Plant.
A great jet of water flowing strongly off the overflow channel at the Susqueda Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Restriction of visits

This unique work of great aesthetic beauty can only be enjoyed by those of us who work here. For security and safety reasons, for about twenty years now, schools or other visitors are no longer allowed.

What can be visited is the famous Hall of Columns, the double revolution hyperbolic geometry with the famous helical access staircase, which in itself is already a didactic exhibition of architectural structure. There is a photographic exhibition of the construction, as well as a sample of old elements and equipment donated by the Endesa Foundation's Historical Fund for the 50th anniversary of the dam and the Power Station, which opens to the public twice a month.

I love explaining and talking about everything I learned from those illustrious visitors who contributed so much. To excite others just as I was excited.

 

Francesc Serradesanferm

Technician responsible for Endesa Generación at the Susqueda Hydraulic Power Plant.

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