Location: Barcelona, Spain
Area: 35.000 m2
Project phase: experimental
Date: 2004

Qualification and urbanization of a huge empty spot left during years in the old city of Barcelona. The project follows up the process of rehabilitation of the neighborhood, the Raval,  questioning the program and the current approach of new public space design in the area.

Existing problems: an high density urban fabric  in an old town with high patrimonial value; a neighborhood that was an industrial motor of the city and an immigration platform; the articulation of public spaces and flows through the neighborhood;  a program allowing to give a new vision of the area.

The intervention: to do a catalyst – engine of the dynamics of the neighborhood. The idea is to give infrastructure to the territory,  to organize it in 3 dimensions, in one unique intervention,  to propose spaces with bigger dimensions, capable of receiving any type of activities and variable events throughout the time.  A mega-structure consisting of intelligent floors that are able to hold secondaries structures on top. Multiplication of the public space in a few plans tied between them allowing a long cinema travelling.

The program: a production place with mixed uses :  Business Center, Halls, film library, rooms for associations, exhibition halls, restaurant….

Elements of the project. Compact aspect: one unique piece, sculptured, at the scale of the surrounding blocks. Facade: element of homogenization. Density: reserve of spaces. Porosity, infiltration, prolongation of the public space up until the roof , diferent levels of privacy. The structure: orthogonal giving a strong directionality and  reflecting the plots divisions. Freedom of interpretation of the space: flexibility and capacity of adjustment to use change and evolution.