vertical wooden slats clad irura town hall’s polyhedral facade in spain

the design preserves the original facade's materiality and openings while introducing a distinct new volume.

Barru ark. edited by christina vergopoulou August 30, 2024 4 min

BARRU ARKITEKTURA rrefurbishes Irura Town Hall in Gipuzkoa

The extension of the Irura Town Hall in Gipuzkoa, Spain, designed by BARRU ARKITEKTURA, focuses on integrating modern design with the existing rural architecture. Situated in the town square opposite the church, the project involves refurbishing and expanding the original square-plan building by 50% to address accessibility and energy efficiency issues.

The design preserves key features of the original structure, such as the facade’s materiality and openings, while introducing a distinct new volume. This addition is characterized by its polyhedral and abstract form, contrasting with the existing architecture. The extension is clad in vertical wooden slats, which create a muted appearance, revealing only a few openings behind the continuous cladding. The design of the new volume is carefully sculpted to respond to urban pedestrian routes through chamfered corners on the ground floor. Inside, the extension introduces a north-south communication axis, positioning the elevator in the original building and the staircase in the new section. The roof acts as a unifying element, and the elevator shaft doubles as a light well, enhancing the interior spaces.

vertical wooden slats clad irura town hall's polyhedral facade in spain - 1 — all images by Jorge Allende

locally sourced pine constructs Irura Town Hall’s new extension

For the structure of the new extension, the design team at BARRU ARKITEKTURA used Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) made from locally sourced pine, minimizing its carbon footprint. The facade is insulated with 10cm of wood fiber and covered with a waterproof, breathable black membrane, topped with a final layer of technological wood slats mounted on horizontal battens. This design choice not only ensures high energy efficiency but also allows the building to generate its own renewable energy, achieving an A energy certification. The wooden slatting adds a dynamic texture that shifts with changing light and seasons, creating a warm and evolving exterior.

vertical wooden slats clad irura town hall's polyhedral facade in spain - 2 — Irura Town Hall extension in Gipuzkoa integrates modern design with traditional rural architecture

vertical wooden slats clad irura town hall's polyhedral facade in spain - 3 — BARRU ARKITEKTURA expanded the square-plan building to improve accessibility and energy efficiency

vertical wooden slats clad irura town hall's polyhedral facade in spain - 4 — the design preserves the original facade’s materiality and openings while introducing a distinct new volume

vertical wooden slats clad irura town hall's polyhedral facade in spain - 5 — vertical wooden slats clad the extension, creating a muted appearance with selective openings

vertical wooden slats clad irura town hall's polyhedral facade in spain - 6 — the new volume is sculpted to respond to pedestrian routes with chamfered corners on the ground floor

vertical wooden slats clad irura town hall's polyhedral facade in spain - 7 — the new structure is built using locally sourced Cross Laminated Timber to minimize the carbon footprint

extension-irura-town-hall-gipuzkoa-barru-arkitektura-designboom-1800-1 — a polyhedral and abstract form characterizes the new addition, contrasting with the existing architecture

vertical wooden slats clad irura town hall's polyhedral facade in spain - 8 — vertical slats on the facade create a dynamic texture that changes with light and seasons

extension-irura-town-hall-gipuzkoa-barru-arkitektura-designboom-1800-3 — the careful balance between old and new highlights the thoughtful approach to sustainable architecture

site plan plan plan plan plan east facade south facade west facade north facade detail detail

project info:

name: Extension of the Irura Town Hall, Gipuzkoa

architect: BARRU ARKITEKTURA | @barruarkitektura
lead architect: Xabier Barrutieta

collaborating architects: Ander Gonzalez (project), Olaia Goikoetxea (project), Ander Guerra (competition), Nahikari Calleja (competition)
location: Gipuzkoa, Spain

photography: Jorge Allende | @jorgeallendefotoarquitectura

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