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Raval Of the sea hotel
the World Of Hospitality
Raval of the Sea Hotel / VVArquitectura
The Raval de la Mar Hotel is located in the historical
center of Vila-Seca, where the urban lines are irregular
and constructions are typically 3 stories high and
narrow, limited by dividing walls. In this sort of urban
layout, irregularities within alignments have ended up
conforming the current existing grain.
The lot has a privileged location since it is delimited by
three streets. The plot is the union of three preexistent
properties on two single-family-houses sit and an
empty lot. From the addition of the three we obtain
our construction site with its final irregular perimeter.
Floor Plan
Furthermore, the ‘Verge de la Pineda’ Street has a
special role in Vila-Seca, it connects the Church’s
square with the Mediterranean sea, passing through
‘Sant Antoni’s’ guarding tower. This street’s importance
caused historic constructions to have a façade
composition very different from their “back” façade,
which were auxiliar constructions and closings.
The irregularity previously mentioned and the
difference between the front-and-back façades
becomes part of the project when designing the
hotel’s exterior skin. This skin will break apart and
differ where the past constructions met one another.
The formalization of this concept are changes on the
elevation, vertical incisions in the buildings, changes in
the upper handrails or even just the addition of bricks
where closing walls had been.
It is through these changes that façades differ and
evolve from the front regular façade that reminds
of the historic examples (‘Verge de la Pineda’ St.),
transitioning to a more arbitrary and flexible back
façade. (‘St. Josep’ St.) This concept creates an
anonymous exterior that blends with its immediate
context creating a radical contrast with the interior
design. An opaque and rock-solid exterior that
opposes the interior, where spaciousness and
brightness are achieved through an interior light well.
Website: www.vvarquitectura.com
Floor Plan
The hotel has 36 rooms distributed from the ground
level all the way to the attic. They are organized on
swastika layout that rotates around the central light
well, which tiers to allow a better entrance of the
south-west light beams. The upper level’s façade steps
back to create exterior spaces both for public and
private use.
The project reaches its peak with the metallic skylight
that connects the interior fortress with the exterior
nature. The skylight’s structure follows the building’s
swastika layout and filters the entering light beams,
becoming one of the organizing elements of the
project.
For more information about this or other
VVArquitectura projects, please do not hesitate to
contact the office. We will respond to any inquiries or
send more material upon request.
Photo credit www.guillamat.com