The renovation proposed by Taller 9s arquitectes was carried out after an exhaustive study of the building, analyzing and reconfiguring its interior space. Thanks to the removal of part of the second-floor slab, natural light penetrates and flows through the four levels of the building, which are vertically connected by a core composed of stairs and an elevator that connects the different floors of the project.
The surrounding area has been transformed into a neighbourhood gathering point, with a new plaza that enhances the entrance and connects this isolated building to the larger community.
The materials and construction systems used are simple and easy to implement. The floors are made of recycled rubber for easy cleaning and improved acoustic performance; the wood is FSC-certified, and the paint and varnish finishes are water-based. The building envelope has been renovated with new insulation panels and improved windows.
Rehabilitación de un edificio del siglo XIX por Taller 9s arquitectes. Fotografía por Adrià Goula Sardà.
Project description by Taller 9s arquitectes
From 19th-century building to multifunctional facility
- Heritage building. Rehabilitation of a 19th-century building representative of the stately homes of the period. The four-story building, with an eclectic architectural style, is listed in the municipal heritage inventory.
- Partially unused building. Before the intervention, the ground floor was partially occupied by a local medical clinic center. The project proposes a comprehensive rehabilitation to install a public library on the upper floors, which were previously closed and unused.
- Multifunctional building. The project ensures the compatibility of the new library with the medical clinic center. To achieve this, the entrance area has been redesigned to be shared, fostering synergies between both uses.
External interventions: improving urban integration
- A new plaza. The boundaries of the plot have been redefined, converting part of it into a new urban plaza to enhance the entrance to the new facility and connect it with the surrounding urban space.
- From closed plot to new garden. The intervention also includes minimal landscaping of the rest of the plot, integrating it into the use of the new facility.
Calculated subtractions: enhancing spatial quality
- Selective deconstruction and spatial clarity. The removal of the two lateral spans of the slab on the second floor (areas with insufficient height) allows for a unified spatial reading, enhances visibility of the roof structure, brings more natural light to the upper floor, and visually connects different levels.
- A single floor plane. The resulting slab acts as the organizing element of the entire program. The main hall and enclosed areas (for internal work) are placed beneath it, leaving the rest of the space open for reading areas.
Strategic insertions: ensuring functionality
- External logistics core. This element resolves evacuation needs and concentrates the vertical distribution of utilities without impacting the interior.
- Interior vertical core. Composed of a staircase and an accessible elevator, it connects all floors, improves accessibility, and enhances overall spatial understanding.
- Access platform and body. This solution ensures accessibility to the building, providing a more representative entrance and a necessary thermal buffer space.
Efficient reuse: with heritage coherence
- Respect for typology and minimal partitioning. The building’s spatial configuration is preserved to adapt to the new program. The original spatial organization is maintained without distortion. New elements feature large glazed surfaces to preserve open views.
- The multipurpose hall as the central space. Centrally located, this room is highly functional and can be integrated with the rest of the spaces as needed.
Sustainable rehabilitation: maximizing efficiency
- Low-energy building as a benchmark. The building achieves very low energy consumption, at just 35 kW/m² per year. The project received the second highest rating among 500 proposals in the first PIREP call (national call of projects by the Spanish Ministry of Urban Agenda to imporve energetical efficieny)
- Reducing demand by improving existing performance. Enhanced insulation in the roof and façades, new low-infiltration windows with high-performance glazing, and the use of cross ventilation optimize the building envelope.
- Efficient and renewable systems. A geothermal climate control system with radiant floor heating, combined with photovoltaic power generation, ensures minimal energy consumption.
