Architects: Pinearq
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Architect In Charge: Albert de Pineda Alvarez
Area: 7,500 sqm
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: FG+SG
Collaborators: Albert de Pineda Álvarez,
Marc Gomá, Estanis Rodriguez, Shannon Coburn
Technical Architects: ENNE-Gestión Activa de Proyec- tos, S.L.P. (Imma Casado, Daniel Rivera)
Structure: STATIC
Services: Grupo JG
From the architect. This public building is equipped with geriatric facilities , located at the junction of the Ronda General Mitre with Marqués de Santa Anna street, on a fully complex urban context. The building has a total of seven floors which include a ground floor and six upper floors which look onto Ronda General Mitre. On the furthest side, the building has only three floors which include a ground floor and two upper floors. Because of this, the building has two different scales, appropriate for two different surroundings where it is located: Ronda General Mitre and Putxet streets. This means that the alignments of the building have been determined according to the distances of the surrounding buildings.
The building has two floors of general services (Basement and Ground floor), six floors where the bedroom units are all located , and an additional floor which is specifically for Technical installation equipment. The diverse room location on several floors, regardless to the building’s shape, has contributed to the different openings and windows to the outside. This is why, a modular design has been used to unify them formally. This modular design has been adapted to different practicability cases with the use of various materials. The common denominator in the façade is obtained by dividing a piece the width of a room in four parts, with a total floor height. These measurements allow a high composition flexibility of the facades.
The decision that the building volumetrically has these two scales leads to the appearance of a three-story base, which runs along the street Marques de Santa Anna and block of seven floors that look into the interior of the block , in this case , remains open , because of the presence of an urban garden which is located on the corner of Homer street with General Mitre . In general terms, the facades that compose the base layer of the building relate to adjacent buildings in their immediate surrounding by using the same material, a stone lining. The upper body is covered with metal sheet. Depending where it’s necessary because of sun protection or to protect resident’s privacy, the modules that are in front of the openings will be practicable and will allow regulation of natural light.
The main entrance is located on the ground floor, exactly on the South-West and South–East corners, leaving a terrace on the right side, for private use with direct access to a cafeteria, rehabilitation and living room area. These three services despite having a glass façade which is exposed to solar rays is protected by sliding brise-soleil made with red cedar. A ramp connects the terrace with the future urban garden located on another level. The loading and unloading is done in the basement, where the dock is naturally lit by skylights. Located around are the general services which are not assisted such as pharmacy, laundry, kitchen and stores. The classroom and care area are connected with the ground floor through an open staircase.
Putget Dolors Aleu Center for the Elderly / Pinearq originally appeared on ArchDaily, the most visited architecture website on 19 Dec 2013.
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