For years, remnants of the former building have been visible to daily passersby. The blind walls inherit pieces of Barcelona’s history through the marks left by the old beams, slabs, and walls.
Our design captures the essence of Catalan culture by respecting historical elements, using traditional construction materials, and achieving a harmonious blend with Castellers. The reconstructed façade features brickwork that reflects the popular architecture of Catalonia.
With its distinctive red clay colour and texture, the brickwork exudes warmth and familiarity to the public. The bricks are arranged in a lattice pattern and constructed over multiple levels, with each tier supporting the next, echoing the rich tradition of Castellers. Through careful planning and collective effort, the bricks rise to the top, creating a façade that showcases a spectacular interplay of shadows and depth.
A structure of corten steel, specially designed to outline the former building, supports a green wall. Climbing plants adorn the façade, enhancing the biodiversity of the public space. At night, warm light emanates from the corten steel frame, highlighting the presence of the former building and adding to its timeless charm, ‘Reminiscència.’
Awards
Third Prize winner in the ’10 Blind Walls International Idea Competition Barcelona 2026′ hosted by UNESCO-UIA, the Barcelona City Council, and the Mies van der Rohe Foundation.
Link: https://www.barcelona.cat/capitalmundialarquitectura/en/international-ideas-competition-young-architects/placeta-de-martina-castells
Jury’s Evaluation
The jury highlights the difficulty of the technique, how the brick is used in a much more artistic way than in the other ideas. The proposal plays with reminiscence, since the memory of the existing building, which was demolished, is incorporated into the design of the new façade, and is completed with the decision to use these bricks; a traditional Catalan technique is therefore recovered.
Link: https://www.barcelona.cat/capitalmundialarquitectura/sites/default/files/2024-10/JuryProceedings_International-Ideas-Competition_BarcelonaWCA2026.pdf