Spanish design studio Office for Strategic Spaces refurbishes a 19th-century housing block located in Barcelona dubbed La Carboneria. It was previously a neglected yard space and is in the city's Eixample district, which is recognized for its gridded urban plan originally designed by Ildefons Cedrá.
The practice explains that "[The original architect] was forced to plan facades to all four sides of the building, unsure where the main streets would be and which one his building would face. Over a century and a half later, the facade that faced the never-built boulevard had to be recovered, its larger windows unblocked, even if they now overlooked two intersecting party walls instead of Barcelona's version of the Champs Elysées."
Gridded Urban Apartment Blocks
Office for Strategic Places Designs La Carboneria Block
Trend Themes
1. Gridded Urban Design - Designing buildings to fit within gridded urban plans can revitalize neglected spaces and create new opportunities for modernization.
2. Sustainable Building Restoration - Revamping old structures with modern design elements can create chic, sustainable living spaces that make use of pre-existing materials.
3. Adaptive Reuse - Giving new function to old spaces through adaptive reuse can lead to incredible design innovations that play off of pre-existing features.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Opportunities for architecture firms to take on sustainable building restoration projects that breathe new life into old structures through modern design.
2. Real Estate Development - There is a growing demand for developers with a commitment to sustainable practices and designs, creating new opportunities to develop chic living spaces in neglected areas.
3. Urban Planning - Urban planners can create more efficient and inventive living spaces by incorporating adaptive reuse and gridded urban design into plans for neglected areas.