Restoration of Community Centre \ Santamaria Arquitectes

Santamaria Arquitectes have recently finished the restoration of the Community Centre and new accesses to historic downtown in Cardona, Spain.

Image courtesy Santamaria Arquitectes | Photo by Francesc Rubí

The building is a rectangular volume with a 282,73m2 site area. It is two storey and it has an only 43,23m frontage facing south to the Miracle road. It was built in the 60s, after the collapse of the retaining wall of the Fira Square. Previously, the building was occupied by the Senior Center, with access by the ground floor and was not having elevator. A circular volume placed on the back of the building was incorporating a spiral staircase that connected the Fira Square with the level of access to the building. This volume was getting up in the square, obstructing the scenic viewpoint placed in the trafficable roof of the building.

Image courtesy Santamaria Arquitectes | Photo by Francesc Rubí

The project respects the original volume of the building and only the facade and interiors have been adapted. The volume corresponding to the circular spiral staircase is removed from the trafficable roof to benefit the viewpoint space in the square.

Circulation diagram, drawing courtesy Santamaria Arquitectes

Instead of it, a new rectangular volume with staircase and elevator has been attached to the front of the building. The new vertical connections core simultaneously solves the mobility access to each of the floors and it also relates, through a weight of 14m, the level of the Fira Square with the lower area of the Miracle road, with sports area and occasional parking.

Section, drawing courtesy Santamaria Arquitectes

Section, drawing courtesy Santamaria Arquitectes

In order to provide the building with a more significance image, in the south facade windows are joined between the two stories, creating bigger holes emphasized by metal boxes giving depth and strong appearance to the facade. The windows and the new vertical connections core have a double skin consisting of metallic strips to protect the building from south solar radiation and to guarantee the privileged views to the castle and the saline valley.

Image courtesy Santamaria Arquitectes | Photo by Francesc Rubí

With reference to the exteriors, the project clans up the base of the building with the landscaping of the slope and the conditioning of a footpath with benches and trees.

Image courtesy Santamaria Arquitectes | Photo by Francesc Rubí

+ Project facts

RESTORATION OF COMMUNITY CENTRE AND NEW ACCESSES TO HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
Location: Miracle Road, Cardona. Spain
Architect: santamaria . arquitectes
Pere Santamaria, architect

http://www.santamariaarquitectes.cat/

Collaborators:
Mireia Palomas
Pilar Toll
Gemma Torras
Pictures: Francesc Rubí
Year: 2010-2011
Client: Cardona City Council
Budget: 1.238.463 €
Area: 565,46 m2

+ All images and drawings courtesy Santamaria Arquitectes