Intervening in the work of a master of architecture and improving it is a challenge that in this case has been achieved. The resulting project generates a three-level volume, with a semi-basement, main floor and upper floor, favouring social relationships between people of all ages and creating versatile and well-equipped spaces. Outside, the immediate urban environment is improved, creating a small square that serves as a visual and acoustic filter with the nearby streets.
Renovation and adaptation for a study center and library by Gabriel Gallegos Borges. Photograph by Gabriel Gallegos Alonso.
Project description by Gabriel Gallegos Borges
Initial state
Designed by Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oíza in 1994, the property is known as Villa Fabriciano, as is the house built by the architect for the same owner in 1987 and located in the town of Torrelodones, Madrid.
The building housed two levels above ground, a commercial space for the sale and exhibition of furniture, and a residential annexe, that had a separate entrance and interior staircase; at the semi-basement level, it had a workshop, warehouse and facilities spaces.
After its commercial activity was abandoned, it was finally acquired by the City Council to carry out the renovation and adaptation works for the new use as a cultural facility, a Municipal Library in the core of the municipality known as Torrelodones-Colonia.
The isolated building is delimited on the North and West orientations by Jesusa Lara and Ángel Yagüe Streets and on the East and South by a patio that borders neighbouring plots; its appearance is sober, regular, a compact volume with a rectangular base, covered with stoneware cladding, on which the two covering pavilions stand out: truncated slate pyramids crowned by two skylights. This coverage constitutes the reference, the main element of the building, responsible for the qualification of its external image in the urban context.
Renovation and adaptation for a study center and library by Gabriel Gallegos Borges. Photograph by Gabriel Gallegos Alonso.
The plan is rectangular, the sum of two squares that are the base of the covering pavilions from which the organization lines are established through three longitudinal and six transversal bays, at whose intersections the vertical structure is arranged: reinforced concrete supports in their lower levels and tubular steel pillars on the upper one, on which the metal structure of the two pavilions emerges.
Adaptation
The renovation works of the property aimed to achieve a functional, flexible space, suitable for the new use. They included demolition and consolidation work, as well as the incorporation of new structures; among the interventions carried out it is worth highlighting:
- Demolition of partitions. In particular, the elimination of the ceiling of the house prevented, partially blurring, the vision of the covering structure; the spatial entity announced from the exterior visualization of the coverage pavilions was thus recovered. The scarce natural lighting provided by the skylights, also mitigated by the dark tint of the wood, was alleviated by opening new Windows in the longitudinal enclosure oriented to the interior patio, thus providing a level of lighting in line with its new use as a reading space. Motorized carpentry was installed in the skylights to facilitate ventilation of the under-deck space.
- On the two upper levels, specific furniture has been installed throughout its interior perimeter that incorporates panelling, shelves, study tables and complementary control and information tables; It also serves to house, and hide, the ventilation ducts.
Renovation and adaptation for a study center and library by Gabriel Gallegos Borges. Photograph by Gabriel Gallegos Alonso.
- For evacuation reasons, a new staircase has been incorporated, made using a light steel and wood structure that aims to be integrated as part of the furniture. While the existing staircase, with two sections, has a more static, closed character, the new staircase, through its linear arrangement occupying the void between the two upper levels, begins an open, processional ascent.
- Partially taking advantage of the supports of the existing pergola structure on the outer perimeter of the building adjacent to Ángel Yagüe Street, a gallery has been created that constitutes a portal or hallway of the library, a space that acts as a filter between it and the street.
- The outdoor patio, previously of a residual nature, is conditioned and recovered through the creation of a pergola expansion space for the development of children's outdoor activities, with direct access from the children's library; the creation of a sunken courtyard as a new access to the semi-basement level.
- Improvement of the immediate urban environment, thus creating a small square as a visual-acoustic filter with the road on Jesusa Lara Street. The pedestrianization of Ángel Yagüe Street was also proposed, which was carried out, but not, incomprehensibly, the row of lime trees that were to serve as solar protection for the glazed gallery.
Renovation and adaptation for a study center and library by Gabriel Gallegos Borges. Photograph by Gabriel Gallegos Alonso.
- Functional areas. The structural organization and formal characteristics of the existing building have facilitated its adaptation for the organization of the library's functional program on its three levels.
- At the semi-basement level the aim was to achieve a large and flexible space for various complementary activities: study, conferences, exhibitions...
- Access via the existing staircase to this level has been complemented with an entrance from the exterior patio through a sunken courtyard, to which the rest area located on this level opens, with immediate communication with the access gallery to the library.
- At the access level there is a control information desk in front of the main entrance; the youth section, comic library and media library, as well as the self-loan service, are distributed on this floor. The children's library is also located, isolated and with a separate entrance from the gallery, which also has access to the pergola patio garden. On the upper level is the adult area with reading areas, multimedia and internet media and periodicals.
