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Private
Lleida
2002
3.268,70 m2
“The aim is to create a spatial unit on a pedestrian scale, conceived in relation to the density of the urban fabric and the specific site”
The project originates from the analysis of a program for a geriatric and gerontological center—including a day center for the elderly—and from the tension inherent in interpreting the site, given the unavoidable proximity of open views toward adjacent facilities, contrasted with the backdrop formed by the rear facades of the residential buildings on the block. The intention is to create a spatial unit on a pedestrian scale, understood through the lens of the urban fabric’s density and the site’s current and future characteristics, as defined by the urban planning guidelines set out in the Partial Plan.
The building is organized by tracing the footprint of the previous, existing structures and inserting a low, highly transparent volume. This element serves as a connecting space, provides a visual terminus for the garden, and acts as a pivot point, mediating between different directions. The positioning of the porch allows access to the Gerontological Center by traversing the “void” between the two buildings.
The building’s composition is defined by two primary volumes: a lower section—the heart of the building’s operations—which houses the more recreational and participatory functions. This section takes the form of a large, semi-transparent plinth that snakes through the site, making sudden turns to create emerging, three-dimensional “boxes” and establishing micro-spaces linked by circulation paths or volumetric forms dictated by their specific use. The upper section is designed as a contained, uniform-thickness volume housing the residential components of the program. Conceived as a rectangular prism resting atop the plinth, it acts as a visual screen and defines the building’s entrance. Its restrained exterior is punctuated only by subtle incisions in the façade, which allow for flashes of natural light to enter or create expansions that open the interior spaces toward the garden.
The insertion of new program elements—differing in scale from those originally present in the two buildings—is clearly expressed through the material and volumetric configuration of the façade. This is underscored by the metallic treatment of the vertical surfaces, which aims to create an intentionally volatile yet tectonic aesthetic, brought to life through the interplay of reflections from the glass and metal.
Copyright © Pampols Arquitectura. Designed by Agència OMA
