‘krea arts center’ by roberto ercilla, portal de betoño, vitoria-gasteiz, spain all images courtesy of roberto ercilla roberto ercilla: krea arts center

spanish firm roberto ercilla arquitectura revamped the convent of portal de betoño in northern spain with a contrasting translucent structure. made up of an inhabitable steel-framed box truss, the addition is able to run alongside the perimeter of the original building eventually finding its way inside, creating a simple yet effective icon as the town’s new art center, while at the same time maintaining its original identity.

the new elements which provide the main entrance, house the information desk, shop, cafe, restaurant, auditorium, and exhibition space, while the pre-existing convent contains the workshops, classrooms, rehearsal rooms, recording rooms, and laboratories geared towards education.  the previously open cloister, where the two phases of the project intersect, has been closed off to form the library and multimedia center complete with skylights, a garden terrace, and solar panels. 

roberto ercilla: krea arts center exterior

roberto ercilla: krea arts center southwest perspective

roberto ercilla: krea arts center exterior approach

roberto ercilla: krea arts center front facade

roberto ercilla: krea arts center interior

roberto ercilla: krea arts center ‘bridge’ over the convent

roberto ercilla: krea arts center ‘bridge’

roberto ercilla: krea arts center ‘bridge’

roberto ercilla: krea arts center above the cloister

roberto ercilla: krea arts center exterior

roberto ercilla: krea arts center convent: pre-construction

roberto ercilla: krea arts center floor plan / level 0

roberto ercilla: krea arts center floor plan / level 1

roberto ercilla: krea arts center floor plan / terrace

roberto ercilla: krea arts center floor plan / restaurant and cafe

roberto ercilla: krea arts center section

roberto ercilla: krea arts center section

roberto ercilla: krea arts center section

roberto ercilla: krea arts center section

roberto ercilla: krea arts center section

roberto ercilla: krea arts center elevation

roberto ercilla: krea arts center elevation

roberto ercilla: krea arts center elevation

roberto ercilla: krea arts center elevation