Projects

In the competition plot you quickly recognize the presence of a ravine, called Can Solé, which has been excavating a small valley where 2 different settlements arrive.
These 2 existing nucleus: Ciudad Cooperativa and Colonia Güell belong to different historical situations, so therefore their morphology is also diverse.

Nowadays the Ciudad Cooperativa finishes with a sudden cut on the earth over the stream. Its buildings of dwellings are of 5, 7 and 9 storey high. These volumes are exposed to this emptiness with out any intermediate scale.

At the other side, La Colonia Güell has a much smaller scale, it consists of two or three storey buildings, with the colour of clay, that makes them look trapped in the earth surface. The industrial part of La Colonia is the one closer to the plot.

In front of these different realities there is an opportunity to fulfil the necessity of A NEW PROGRAMME TO CREATE THE MISSING INTERMEDIATE SCALE. To offer a transition space that will become a meeting place between the two different situations. This will give an answer to the increasing demand for INTENSIFYING THE SOCIAL LIFE IN THESE QUARTERS.

               …OUR FIRST MOVE IS TO RECOMPOSE A TOPOGRAPHY

A low level of occupation in the area led us to propose placing the new programme as an operation of FORMING A NEW LANDSCAPE.

The m2 will redefine the natural excavation produced by the stream, giving shape to one of its sides: the one of Ciudad Cooperativa, as if A NEW EROSION HAS TAKEN PLACE.

In the most horizontal area of the valley, in front of Ciudad Cooperativa we have placed big horizontal naves to be occupied by industries and services, avoiding placing more dwelling programme in such a dense area.

The new longitudinal naves will organize a new activity area in parallel to the central rambla of Ciudad Cooperativa, intensifying the possibilities of activity in this area. The new low buildings WILL ORGANIZE THE ENTRANCES TO THE NEW PARK.

The sharp cuts on the terrain are changed into a new topography and planted with trees that will help in maintaining the shape of these NEW DEFINED MOUNTAINS.

The change of the topography of the valley includes the enlargement and filling in with trees of the pavement of Lluís Companys Street, the actual limit of la Ciudad with the plot.

The link with La Colonia Güell is designed by OPENING NEW DOORS to the old wall that protects a cultivated orchard.
THE DOORS WILL OPEN TO A PUBLIC GARDEN AND THE NEW DWELLINGS. This area takes its character from the actual field: the fruit trees that are now there will be kept inside the private and the public garden.