Sant Just Desvern, Barcelona – Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura, 1975
Walden 7, located just outside Barcelona in Sant Just Desvern, is one of Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura’s most impressive residential projects. Completed in 1975, the building explores alternative models of urban living through a modular design and the idea of communal spaces.
The complex consists of 446 apartments. The 28 to 30 square meter modules allow for a variety of floor plans.
The building consists of eighteen interconnected towers staggered around seven vertical courtyards. Walkways, stairs and bridges connect the building. Most of the apartments have two orientations – one towards the city, the other towards the inner courtyards.
The exterior façade, originally clad with red ceramic tiles, suffered from material problems and was later repainted with red paint. Despite a modest budget, the project included several communal facilities such as stores, meeting rooms, a small library and rooftop swimming pools overlooking Barcelona.
The complex turns 5o Years this year.
Jordana Schramm is an architecture photographer. She is known for her calm, moody visual style and her intuitive ability to capture the soul of a project. Her work goes beyond documentation, seeking out angles and perspectives that echoes the architect’s original intent, translating design into emotion. Her Photography connects viewers in a quiet but powerful connection to architecture.
