marcio kogan and squircle capital re-imagine a 1960s office building in barcelona

brazilian architect marcio kogan, and his firm studio MK27, have re-imagined an elliptical office building, which was originally completed by swiss architect marc-joseph saugey in the 1960s. prominently located next to a roundabout in one of barcelona’s main business districts, francesc macià 10 has been completely transformed into a mixed-use residential and retail development. ‘I feel a connection between the energy of barcelona and the building,’ says marcio kogan.

all images courtesy of squircle capital

‘the building is protected (as a historic monument),’ continues kogan, who leads the são paulo-based firm studio MK27. ‘you can’t modify the façade and we like this — we are trying to create a life inside this environment. there is a relation with circles, between the building and the roundabout. to transform the curved lines to the interior was the main part of our concept and there is a huge integration between inside and outside. it’s a little bit like a lighthouse.’

the protected building is located next to a prominent roundabout

francesc macià 10 is being backed by squircle capital, a barcelona-based developer. ‘the last six years have been extremely exciting for squircle capital, as we evolve and further our aesthetic as a developer,’ says josé caireta, the firm’s co-managing partner. ‘we’ve worked with a number of extraordinary collaborators, from luxury hotel brands to world-renowned architects and designers on our existing developments, and are very much looking forward to the next year, as we reveal the much anticipated interiors of francesc macià 10 as well as our next european developments.’

the structure features a distinctive façade

the development’s curved form is also referenced in the design of the shading

the architects were not able to significantly modify the building external appearance

the design team sought to transform the structure’s curved lines internally

the residences will offer sweeping views across the city