ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
other industrial buildings . It takes advantage of the opportunities of the original construction , an open and bright space , complemented with a new configuration of routes and vertical cores , highperformance facilities , and equipment , and the use of the roof as a playful space for gardens and renewable energy collection . Intelligent management of the building optimizes its efficiency , incorporating digital tools for the shared use of workstations , meeting rooms , common spaces , or access to mobility .
Sustainability & inclusiveness The rehabilitation of the old building revalues and prolongs the useful life of the peculiar reinforced concrete grid that constitutes its structure and façade . The old obsolete building thus becomes a building with maximum efficiency , a fact that is expressed in the façade , where the treatment of the openings combines the concrete framework , repaired in a careful but visible way , without hiding the signs of the passage of time , with complementary elements in the form of a technological “ cassette ” inserted within the grid . The contrast between these elements highlights the configuration and materiality of the structural system , while providing an optimal level of natural light , solar protection , and thermal insulation .
The result is a building with a low environmental impact due to the reduction in the carbon footprint of existing materials with a long-life cycle , the new energy efficiency , and its contribution to urban regeneration and improvement of the territory . The building is in the process of obtaining LEED Platinum and Lean2Cradle certification .
www . b720 . com / projects / immediate surroundings . Thus , the first floors are open to public use , while the upper floors house the workspaces , which are open to the city through large glazed openings that are more than just windows ; their abstract presence , depth , and play of reflections is complemented by the desire to serve as urban infrastructure , equipped for the installation of ephemeral assemblies , thus enhancing participation in city events such as the festival of illuminating arts “ Llum BCN ”.
Quality of life & efficiency SWITCH aims to be a benchmark for quality workspaces in Barcelona , as well as for the refurbishment of existing buildings and their adaptation to the highest quality standards , serving as an example for the future reconversion of many
ARCHETECH - PAGE 60