Located in Eixample district in Barcelona, this rehabilitation project transforms a former industrial building into open-plan office spaces, bringing the structure up to contemporary standards of functionality and energy efficiency.
The intervention is conceived as an opportunity to reveal the building’s hidden historical layers while fostering the circular economy of cities by extending the useful life of obsolete structures.
Built in 1850, this 21×21-meter block is a testament to the industrial architecture of the period and is regarded as a protected heritage example.
The design process began with a meticulous exploration to determine which elements of the building should be preserved and restored, carefully stripping away the layers accumulated through decades of renovations.
This approach allowed the true essence of the building to emerge by highlighting its original structure. Every new element not only respects the existing fabric but also establishes a deliberate contrast, creating a clear distinction and connection between old and new.
An example of this strategy can be found in the brick walls and wooden beams, which have been structurally reinforced with dark grey-painted steel additions. In the meeting rooms, materials in neutral chromatic tones were selected to ensure that the original elements remain the focal point.
The rhythm of the existing structure and windows is accentuated by the orderly transversal insertion of technical lighting and building services. Through the superposition of elements with differing yet harmonious aesthetics, users can literally read the building’s history across the geometric lines formed on the ceiling.
The project aims to create flexible spaces capable of adapting to a variety of scenarios and to the collaborative nature of its activity. A series of mobile elements allow for the free configuration of a multifunctional 250-square-meter space on the ground floor.
At the heart of this area, a retractable projection surface enables its transformation into a screening room.
