‘cultural civic center’ by EXIT architects, palencia, spain image © fernando guerra all images courtesy of EXIT architects

 

 

madrid-based practice EXIT architects in collaboration with eduardo delgado orusco have converted a 19th century prison into a ‘cultural civic center’ for palencia, spain. creating a new meeting place for the people of the city, the building’s internal pavilions host activities within a hybrid atmosphere of old and new components. the heavy masonry bearing walls which enclose the original four wings have been maintained and refurbished while the interventions of zinc metal and U-glass complete the structure. the degraded roof and clay tiles were removed and replaced with large skylights, bringing natural illumination into the once dark interior.

 

the double storey criss-crossing wings extend from a central great hall which takes the form of an octagonal atrium capped with a stepped alcove ceiling. cylindrical courtyards are scattered throughout the upper level, permeating the ceiling to generate open voids for daylight as well as opportunities for outdoor planting. corridors wrap the site’s perimeter to connect the cross-form plan creating a modern and friendly exterior appearance.

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia zinc metal and U-glass interventions complete the refurbished masonry walls image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia entry image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia original brick facade has been refurbished and maintains image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia entrance image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia corridor image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia stair within a translucent glass atrium image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia circular skylights and courtyards introduce light from above image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia cylindrical courtyards image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia tree within outdoor courtyard image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia upward view from courtyard image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia one of the wings image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia upward view of cathedral ceiling image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia octagonal library image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia upward view of octagonal alcove ceiling image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia light filters down from the glass enclosed structural beams image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia auditorium image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia roof detail image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia rooftop courtyard image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia at night image © fernando guerra

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia original prison

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia rendering

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia axonometric

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia phased diagram of retained walls and interventions

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia site plan

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia floor plan / level 0

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia floor plan / level 1

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia roof plan

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia section

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia section

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia section

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia section

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia

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EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia section

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia section

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia elevation

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia elevation

 

 

EXIT architects: cultural civic center in palencia elevation