Thread: Former Cement Factory Now an Office and House

Very cool building, appreciate buildings like this. Knew some of you share my love for Architecture.

Architect: Ricardo Bofill
Program: Architectural offices /archives /model laboratory /exhibition space /Bofill's-apartment /guest rooms /gardens
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Total floor area: 3,100 square meters and gardens
House area: 500 square meters
Date Completed: 1975

There is nothing as good as an aged bottle of wine; and in this case the aged bottle of wine is a project which was completed in 1975, but is still worth mentioning! First and foremost we would like to thank our friend and founder of Room Service design store in Greece, Katerina Xynogala for providing us with the necessary information regarding The Cement Factory, which is featured in the latest Room Service catalogue.

The Cement Factory was discovered in 1973, it was an abandoned cement factory and partially in ruins, comprised of over 30 silos, underground galleries and huge engine rooms; Ricardo Bofill bought it and began renovation works. He identified the program; The Cement Factory was to be used as architectural offices, archives, a model laboratory, and exhibition space, an apartment for him, as well as guest rooms and gardens. He defined the space by demolishing certain structures, cleaning cement, exposing previously concealed structures and creating the landscape architecture by planting various plants such as eucalyptus, palms, olive trees and cypresses; renovation works lasted nearly two years.

Bofill imagined the future spaces and created a layout according to the different aesthetic and plastic predispositions that had developed since WWI and were present within the factory. A compendium of surrealist elements; paradoxical stairs that climbed to nowhere, the absurdity of certain elements that hung over voids, compelling but useless spaces of strange proportion but magical because of their tension and disproportion. Elements of abstraction; pure volumes which reveal themselves at times broken and impure as well as elements of brutalism; abrupt treatment and sculptural qualities of the materials. Being seduced by the elements of contradiction and the vagueness of the space he decided to preserve the factory and modify the original brutality (due to the coarse of nature and the former program), and sculpt it like a work of art. All these magical elements stand in the midst of transformed gardens which were once the yard of a cement factory.

Overall, The Cement Factory is a building with unique design and architectural elements; a lofty interior full of style. A mixture of textures and forms, materials and impressions; the enormous spaces, the large arched windows and the stunning quality of natural light throughout the day makes it a unique place to live in and work in. Moreover, these magical elements stand in the midst of transformed gardens which were once the yard of an abandoned cement factory

I would live there!

In Barcelona and 34,000 sq. ft. hell yes I would. I'm curious about the asbestos though.

Originally Posted by JC Hunter

In Barcelona and 34,000 sq. ft. hell yes I would. I'm curious about the asbestos though.

ehh, i could deal with it

How close to Las Ramblas?

Later,

Originally Posted by Lee Yoder

How close to Las Ramblas?

Later,

No clue how close it is to central barcelona, being vacant/abandoned I'm assuming not too close.

It was on MTV Cribs........female pop singer Paulina Rubio from Spain.

quick question,
how do you have a conference meeting without people hearing? There are no wall and it seems like everyone could hear you talking

That's easily of the most unique transformation I've ever seen! Very cool!

Originally Posted by rossii

It was on MTV Cribs........female pop singer Paulina Rubio from Spain.

haha you beat me to it.. she is actually mexican and it belongs to her dad who is a very famous architect in spain