'Can Gassol' residential building

Mataró, Spain
Photo © Shlomi Almagor
Photo © Shlomi Almagor
Photo © Lluís Casals
Photo © Lluís Casals
Photo © Lluís Casals
Photo © Lluís Casals
Photo © Lluís Casals
Photo © Lluís Casals
Drawing © Ruisánchez Arquitectes
Architects
Ruisánchez Arquitectes
Location
Plaça Pepa Maca, 08301 Mataró, Spain
Year
2011

(Project in association with A.C.C. Arquitectes Associats)

After the deterioration of the old Gassol Manufacturing Industries to a state which forced its demolition, it was decided to maintain the reference and articulation of the previous urban form. The intervention, therefore, kept the linear facade of one of the main streets with the purpose to preserve its image. The nave behind it rebuilt to house a public, communal facility.

The volume of the project consists of a linear, "U" shaped block that encloses the common building, forming a new public space within. This space connects -visually and by pedestrian routes-, the surrounding streets and the neighboring plaza.

The buildings, a mix of social, subsidized and private housing, keep the alignment of the street. The ground floor, partly occupied by a municipal facility, allows permeability from the street to the new public space.

On the facade facing the public space of the neighboring block, the ground floor is emptied, enhancing connectivity between the public spaces.

This same building maintains the alignment of the street and rises at the corner, but withdraws its facade to allow direct visual of the new facility and to encourage the access to the interior of the block.

Related Projects

  • Shanghai Suhe MixC World
    KOKAISTUDIOS
  • Welcome to the Stage!
    Kjellander Sjöberg
  • Hovering Kan-Too – Great Bay Area Center Showroom
    Wutopia Lab
  • Stockwell-Rodríguez Residence
    Belmont Freeman Architects
  • Haunsbergstraße | 1. Preis
    Architektinnen Schremmer.Jell ZT GmbH

Magazine

Other Projects by Ruisánchez Arquitectes

Montjuic Fire Station
Barcelona, Spain
‘El Rengle’ Building - Retail, offices and services
Mataró, Spain
Vallparadís - Can Jofresa Park
Terrassa, Spain
'Creation Factory' in the old Fabra & Coats main building, Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Municipal Cultural Facility, main plaza and central Market in Castellar del Vallès
Castellar del Vallès, Spain