batlle i roig arquitectes: can bisa social housing

spanish practice batlle i roig arquitectes has renovated a 19th-century mansion into a social housing block on the riera de cabrils watercourse in barcelona. its location appealed to the city council to convert it into a cultural center with multi-family housing, but the idea quickly became infeasible with the amount of space available, allocating the public auditorium, bar and meeting rooms on the ground floor and residences above.

the dwellings are housed within two volumes in the shape of an L whose widths reflect the dimensions of the streets and wrap around a courtyard space between the original estate and the added structure. the facade extends the vernacular of the manor, both of which contain a white stucco finish, with a single sloping roof that grows as it makes its way further from the historical focal point. hand-made ceramic planters by carme balada are spread throughout the exterior circulation to organize different areas of the complex. part of the demolished factory was left intact in one of the facades as homage to its historical origins.

image © andres flajszer (also main image) | all images courtesy of batlle i roig arquitectes

view from courtyard
image © andres flajszer

middle space between housing block and mansion
image © andres flajszer

image © andres flajszer

(left) ceramic planters present throughout the exterior spaces
(right) a portion of the original factory’s facade is preserved
image © andres flajszer

corner entry
image © andres flajszer

image © andres flajszer

perforated metal shutters
image © andres flajszer

housing block and mansion
image © andres flajszer

approach from a park
image © andres flajszer

image © andres flajszer

site plan

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

floor plan / level -1

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elevation

elevation

elevation

elevation