“La Fábrica” is a set of architectural elements that rescues an installation to produce cement that was built in the first industrial period of the Spanish region of Catalonia.
There are some aesthetic concepts that emerged in the period close to the First World War: Spaces, stairs, and other elements loaded with a surrealism that eliminates any hope of achieving functionality. Abstract the volumes until achieving purity. And treat the elements with brutality.
There are four fully differentiated parts. The Cathedral, the Residence, the Studio and the Gardens. The Cathedral is a very spacious conference and exhibition hall. Its roofs are ten meters high. Rusty iron and concrete preserve the factory aesthetic. The residence consists of two floors. Upstairs is the main room, the kitchen is installed below and the room is located between them.
The studio is located in the old silos. There are four floors connected by a spiral staircase. The design of the floor encourages communication between colleagues so that the work is done as a team.
The gardens are the green space that is needed in any housing environment. There is green grass, trees of various species such as eucalyptus, palms, olive trees, plums and climbing plants.
Source: Ricardo Bofill
