The project transforms a 450 m² industrial warehouse in Sant Adrià de Besòs into offices for a technology company and the home of one of its founders. It is a high-ceilinged space in a mixed-use building that houses a carpentry workshop, a warehouse for Honduran imports, logistics warehouses, several churches of different denominations, and a spa and meditation centre.
The warehouse had to be adapted to a very deep space without opening new windows or skylights. To optimise natural light, an open-plan layout was adopted, with an intermediate area of semi-enclosed spaces that act as an acoustic and programmatic buffer between the home and the office. These diffuse areas of adaptable spaces can always be accessed via two doors or staircases, ensuring that they are truly interchangeable according to the needs of different users.
With a budget of less than €170,000 (less than €380/m²), low-cost solutions based on standard industrialised systems were investigated. Post-tensioned shelving with slotted profiles was used as the supporting structure and plywood panels for the enclosures. Close to the world of DIY, these systems, with simple mechanical joints, allowed for quick assembly without the need for specialised operators. In addition, standard slotted profiles offer great transformability with a simple drill and can be easily dismantled and reused, reducing energy consumption and waste generation.
The design is divided into two worlds: the technical, consisting of light and flexible steel structures that house essential installations and services, and the hedonistic, an open and solid space with fixed white concrete furniture, designed for everyday enjoyment. The combination of the two creates a hybrid and adaptable space where the boundaries between rooms are blurred. This, added to the multiplicity of routes, encourages exploration and fosters the emergence of fortuitous situations that enrich the everyday experience.