This complex of buildings, used as a holiday camp for two groups of 72 children, is located on the “Mas Silvestre” estate, owned by the Caixa d’Estalvis de Sabadell. Set on a south-facing slope in the Catalan coastal mountain range, at an average elevation of 320 metres above sea level, the site is largely sheltered from the winds of the Montseny and includes areas of woodland, cultivated land and abandoned vineyards.
The building occupies the upper part of the site, adapting to the topography of the terrain. It is organised into three distinct volumes —two containing the sleeping accommodation and one housing communal services— linked by arcaded porches and arranged so as to incorporate a large central outdoor space, the courtyard, bounded to the south by the porches and to the north by the forest. The unity of the different volumes is expressed through a continuous pitched tiled roof, which is maintained in an organically continuous form and allows for a varying number of storeys depending on the changing level of the ground.
The project is based on the intention of making the plan more flexible, with a view to allowing different modes of use. By decentralising the layout, the aim has been to dissolve the building into the landscape, adapting it to the topography while ensuring constant contact between all its spaces and nature. The courtyard is enclosed on all sides by built volumes except to the north, where it adjoins the forest. In this way, the forest gradually merges with and dissolves into the architecture.
Access to the building is from the south. Passing through a porch, one reaches the two dormitory blocks (staff accommodation, children’s dormitories, sanitary facilities, and a shared space with toilets and clothes storage, which acts as a unifying element within each block), as well as the administration area (director’s bedroom and study, guest rooms and shared spaces, with the possibility of independent operation).
Each building volume connects to the outdoor space via a covered porch used for recreation and manual activities. At one corner of the plan, overlooking the central courtyard, there are two dining rooms that can be converted into meeting rooms, and a smaller third dining space for guests. Together with their service areas, these form the third independent block, accessed via the main porch. Within this block, it was considered appropriate to include an infirmary to ensure care for sick children in the event of the rest of the camp being absent.
The construction system is very simple, using brick load-bearing walls finished with render and paint both internally and externally. These follow a strict 5-metre structural grid, reinforcing the overall unitary character of the complex despite the flexibility of the plan. Access to the estate is via an existing path that crosses the site entirely towards Canyamars. Opposite the building, down the slope on the other side of the path, there is a sports area with a swimming pool, playing field, sports court and changing rooms.
