Jorge Castañé, Enrique Molinero, Héctor Bareas, Lars Sorensen
Photography
Simón García - arqfoto.com
Aragó 330
Rehabilitating the facade of an existing office building, enhancing user well-being and providing a renewed image.
The project involves the rehabilitation of the façade of an old building constructed in 1979, within the context of the modernist architecture of Barcelona’s Eixample district. The pre-existing façade consisted of a typical system from that era, formed by a set of vertical and horizontal structural elements arranged in a grid-like framework that supported the glass and opaque panels, projecting a reticulated image.
The main objective of the project is to create a new identity, both from an exterior and interior perspective, while enhancing user comfort and well-being. To achieve this, the façade openings are enlarged, increasing the glazed surface and allowing greater light transmission into the interior. The openings are designed as a lightweight modular system that reinterprets the original grid, creating a ventilated façade finished in composite material, which acts as a thermal and acoustic buffer, optimizing the overall efficiency of the building.
The incorporation of operable façade elements and a layout that frees up the corner structures enables natural cross ventilation.
From a construction efficiency standpoint, the modular system facilitates agile on-site assembly while also allowing for future disassembly and recyclability of the materials used.
In terms of volume and materials, the base and main body of the building integrate harmoniously with the existing urban fabric and adapt to the scale of the surrounding buildings.
The rooftop features a system of vertical slats that create a double skin, providing greater privacy and solar control. The base follows the same architectural language, inheriting the composition of the classic buildings of the Eixample.