Province Province of Barcelona Founded 1909 | Phone +34 937 36 89 66 Function Museum | |
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Address Rambla d'Ègara, 270, 08221 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain Hours Open today · 9AM–6PMThursday9AM–6PMFriday9AM–6PMSaturday10AM–2:30PM, 4:30–8:30PMSunday(Father's Day)10AM–2:30PMHours might differMondayClosedTuesday9AM–6PMWednesday9AM–6PM Architect Lluís Muncunill i Parellada Similar Casa Alegre de Sagrera, Masia Freixa, La Seu d'Ègara, Parc de Vallparadís, Textile Museum and Docu Profiles | ||
The Museum of Science and Industry of Catalonia (Catalan: Museu de la Ciència i de la Tècnica de Catalunya, Spanish: Museo de la Ciencia y de la Técnica de Cataluña) known by its acronym (mNACTEC) is a museum in Terrassa, near Barcelona in Catalonia and Spain. The museum is an Anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage.
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Building
The museum is housed in the iconic Vapor Aymerich, Amat i Jover in Terrassa near Barcelona. It was designed by the Catalan architect Lluís Muncunill for Messrs Aymerich, Amat i Jover in 1909. He solved the problem of roofing the immense weaving shed with row upon row of 161 shell-shaped half arches, each with gently curving windows: this served the same function as the saw-toothed north lights in a Lancashire weaving shed. The columns broke up the usable space of the factory so had to be carefully placed around the looms. The columns functioned as rain water drainage, and held the line shafting that transmitted power from the stationary steam engine to the looms. The engine house and other parts of the building feature the Catalan vault. The factory was severely affected by the flooding of 1963 (Catalan: Riuada del Vallès) and it finally closed in 1978. It was bought by the state in 1983 and opened as a museum.
Museum
mNACTEC runs several museums across Catalonia, this one specialises on textiles. The aim of the museum is to provide a comprehensive overview of the history of knowledge and technology in Catalonia, and the process of industrialisation. It starts with the Neolithic revolution, shows power generation techniques with waterwheels, electricity and turbine drives and solar technology.