ESPAICAIXA IN GIRONA, Germany by MIRAG

Article source: MIRAG

The aim of this project was the conversion of the existing building into a cultural and social centre, which would provide it with institutional representation. The outset was a dark, half-buried building that lacked quality spaces, placed at the interior of a block in Girona. The vast remodelling program included a 180-seat auditorium, an exhibition room, a computer room and an administrative area, among other spaces.

Main facade of the building. EspaiCaixa is located in the interior of the block building, Image Courtesy © Jordi Surroca

• Architects: MIRAG
• Project: EspaiCaixa
• Location: GIRONA, Germany
• Photography:Jordi Surroca
• Typology: Cultural center
• Authors: MIRAG Arquitectura i Gestió (Pau Millet & Xavier Ramoneda, architects)
• Year: 2010
• Collaborators: Mariano Piccardo architect, Laura Geraci architect, Roberta Rech  architect, Marta Grau architect
• Building Engineering: GPCat Toni Floriach y Beth Bacardit
• Structures engineering: GPARQ
• Facilities engineering: Oriol Ruiz Dotras engineer, Acustic engineer, Higini Arau  Phd in Physics
• Developer: Fundación ‘La Caixa’ , ‘LaCaixa’ foundation
• Construction company: Euritmia Construccions
• Budget: 3.460.000 €
• Built surface: 1.300 sqm

Entrance facade, Image Courtesy © Jordi Surroca

We decided to work on the existing building in order to take full advantage of a very expressive interior space, whilst proposing a powerful image both to interior and exterior spaces.

The pursuit of a new image uncovered a world of suggestive interior spaces. Taking the ceiling of Antoni Gaudí’s Pedrera as a model, our proposal consisted of a white dropped ceiling, continuous yet undulating, uneven, which has an expressive character of its own and is present in all spaces of EspaiCaixa. Also, Gaudí’s Casa Batlló offered some ideas for the courtyard, in the features of separating surfaces that -as in Gaudí’s mosaic tiles- are coloured in blue-green in order to provide freshness and luminosity.

Hall of EspaiCaixa, Image Courtesy © Jordi Surroca

Both the false ceiling and the coloured glass walls give the building unity and contribute to guide the user throughout the facilities

The vibrant design in the interior reveals its distinctive features to the façade, which is partially painted with the same colours as the interior. Despite the contrast between EspaiCaixa and the surrounding blocks, the overall integration with the urban fabric is improved with respect to the previous building. Moreover, it becomes an inner block used and frequented by the neighbours.

Hall of EspaiCaixa, Image Courtesy © Jordi Surroca

Corridor of EspaiCaixa. The coloured glass walls and the false ceiling give the building a unity, Image Courtesy © Jordi Surroca

Computer area, Image Courtesy © Jordi Surroca

Auditorium, Image Courtesy © Jordi Surroca

Corridor of EspaiCaixa. The coloured glass walls and the false ceiling give the building a unity, Image Courtesy © Jordi Surroca

Ceiling, Image Courtesy © Jordi Surroca

Ceiling and coloured walls scheme, Image Courtesy © MIRAG

Image Courtesy © MIRAG

Image Courtesy © MIRAG

Image Courtesy © MIRAG

Image Courtesy © MIRAG

Image Courtesy © MIRAG

Tags: Germany, Girona

Category: Cultural Center

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