HARQUITECTES demonstrates adaptive reuse in spain

an adaptive reuse project completes in terrassa

Architecture studio HARQUITECTES has completed the Rehabilitation of Vapor Cortès, transforming a historic industrial complex in Spain, into the new headquarters for Prodis Foundation. This adaptive reuse project in Terrassa — a city just outside Barcelona — preserves the essence of the original structures while responding to contemporary needs with innovative interventions.

Vapor Cortès comprises industrial buildings that were once part of Vapor Marqués, a site characterized by its ceramic brick load-bearing walls, wooden trusses, and Arabic tile roofs. Over decades of industrial activity, the complex underwent numerous modifications, creating a layered history of transformations. HARQUITECTES sought to retain the urban and industrial identity of the site while adapting it for Prodis, an organization that supports individuals with disabilities.

images © Adrià Goula

A Public Passage at the Heart of vapor cortès

Central to HARQUITECTES’ Rehabilitation of Vapor Cortès is the recovery of the original service street between the two main buildings. The architects transformed this space into a public passage, open during operating hours, to integrate the facility with the surrounding urban fabric. Acting as a pedestrian street, this central axis organizes circulation within the center while fostering interaction between Prodis users and the broader community.

The central body of the passage retains its external facades and transverse beams while removing the roof and floors, creating an open-air street. This selective demolition preserves the industrial character and historical layers of the structure while inviting natural light and airflow. By maintaining the architectural ‘wounds’ and structural marks, the project emphasizes the building’s history and identity.

The two main naves house spaces for Prodis’s diverse activities, including workshops, classrooms, dining areas, and meeting rooms, tailored to users’ varying abilities. Internally, the spaces are organized around the structural rhythm of the trusses, with new perpendicular beams reinforcing the existing structure. This bidirectional system allows for a hierarchy of spaces while maintaining the original industrial logic.

the project by HARQUITECTES rehabilitates the Vapor Cortès complex in Terrassa, Barcelona

Structural Innovation by harquitectes

To reinforce and subdivide the expansive interiors, new structural interventions in wood complement the original construction. These new beams and skylights follow the same material logic, creating a dialogue between old and new. Skylights bring natural light into the main spaces, emphasizing their uses while creating an inviting atmosphere.

The rehabilitated roof maintains the appearance of Arabic tiles while incorporating modern insulation for energy efficiency. Internally, the roof doubles as an acoustic absorber, using wood battens and a porous veil. Facades were insulated with exposed ceramic wall panels, preserving the building’s historical rhythm. Trombe walls and passive design strategies, including natural ventilation and solar protections, ensure energy-efficient operation.

the design preserves the industrial character with ceramic brick walls and wooden trusses

While the scale of the buildings reflects their industrial origins, the sequence of linked spaces and natural light creates moments of intimacy and focus. The architecture supports Prodis’s mission to foster meaningful social connections by providing spaces that blend utility with emotional and existential dimensions.

HARQUITECTES’s approach to the Rehabilitation of Vapor Cortès celebrates the site’s imperfections and accumulated history. By removing coverings and recovering original openings, the architects expose the structure’s layered heritage and ‘transhistorical’ character. The result is a thoughtful balance between preservation and contemporary function, making the site a vibrant part of the city’s fabric while honoring its past.

a central pedestrian street replaces the built-over service street to connect spaces and the city