In May this year, I had the opportunity to visit Barcelona and its many beautiful architectural sights. Top of the list were Walden 7 and La Fábrica – both located next to each other, albeit with a different approach by Ricardo Bofill. While Walden 7 was built and designed by Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura, La Fábrica is a remodelling of a building.
Ricardo Bofill’s Adaptive Reuse of Industrial Space
La Fábrica in Barcelona is an example of adaptive reuse and architectural transformation following industrialisation. The building was constructed in the early 20th century as a cement factory for La Auxiliar de la Construcción S.A. (LACSA).
It includes a 105-metre-high chimney. Designed by the American engineer Clifford Tomlinson, considered one of the tallest in Europe at the time.
This chimney is not part of the area, later remodelled by Ricardo Bofill and his Taller de Arquitectura.
Bofill bought the factory in 1973 and began to partially demolish it in order to reinterpret it. The silos were preserved and converted into offices and living spaces. La Fábrica was largely completed in 1975.
A large interior space, the ‘cathedral’, is used for meetings, exhibitions, concerts and other activities. Above the cathedral is Bofill’s residential building with green roofs and terraces. The entire complex has been planted with lush gardens, including on the roofs, to give the impression of an oasis in the middle of the surrounding industrial area.
La Fábrica now serves as the headquarters of Taller and as a residence for several of its architects, including Ricardo Bofill until his death on 14 January 2022.
