TANIA MARQUES ARCHITECT

 

This technological centre is located in Poblenou, the old industrial district of the city of Barcelona. As part of the “ensanche” one of the requests for the project is to preserve the characteristic chamfered street corners. Also it aims to become in a new architectonical, technological, cultural and social landmark, in order to renovate the deserted post-industrial neighbourhood.

 

In this project the roof takes an important role. It remains of the old sloping roof industrial premises and at the same time it appears as a reflection of the contrast in the actual outline of the city. The building is divided in four bands that lean alternately to different side. Between the bands the light enters into the building through the glass surfaces that separate the four pieces. Each of the bands changes its height and width along the cross section of the building, and so do the space of light in between the bands. The whole building seems like four big tubes that get wider or narrow, separating or getting their selves together along their length. In each end the tubes open to the city in a diagonal cut that redefines the chamfered corners.

 

In the interior of the building the four exterior bands turn into a big central nave with three aisles (one at one side and two at the other). Each of the aisles is designated to a different use. The result is a block where all the office and administration room are located; another block with all the educational rooms (classrooms, workshops, dance studios, labs and library) and a final block that holds the technical rooms, toilets, storage and the vertical access of the building. The central nave is the heart of the building that separates the administrative use from the educational one, embracing the different blocks and pulling light deep into the ground floor of the building where the expositions are located. In the upper floor the aisles enter occasionally into the central nave forming interior terraces and windows with view from the aisles to the exposition. The big auditorium, right in the entrance side of the building, is the only block “floating” in the big empty nave.

 

In this project the whole space is divided and unified by light. The light is brought into the building in four different ways. Firstly, thought the perforated panels that cover the four tubes. Secondly, the light filters into the tubes directly into the three glass fissures between the bands. Also through the glass roof that covers the central nave. And finally the light enters strongly though the big glass surface that covers the end of the tubes looking into the city of Barcelona and to the sea.