spanish architectural practice fuses-viader architects deals with the complexity of the 19th-century architecture by redesigning and extending sant julia’s fortress in girona. taking advantage of the existing structure — its thick walls buried underground — the project features a contemporary arts center accompanied by a hotel, restaurants and educational areas.

fuses-viader completes museum and hotel complex in a spanish 19th-century fortress
images by jordi mas

 

 

comprising a set of units, the fortress is built on several levels formed by stone walls and vaults, which are mostly underground and are connected by corridors running through the mountain. thus, the museum is arranged on the lower level, while the hotel is placed at the top, the stronghold zone, where explosives used to be stored. 

fuses-viader completes museum and hotel complex in a spanish 19th-century fortress
museum-level square
image by varlos suárez-kilzi

 

 

a 7,5-meters high auditorium, which is an oval in section, is cast with natural soil formwork and located in the center of the set. the huge space-like room features a metal-covered floor and is illuminated through a round skylight in the middle of the ceiling.

fuses-viader completes museum and hotel complex in a spanish 19th-century fortress
the auditorium
image by jordi mas

 

 

combining restoration and construction, fuses-viader’s project incorporates two design solutions: the renovated existing buildings maintain the austere spirit of the strong and secure fortress and are covered with green roofs, providing a unique system of passive cooling. meanwhile, the new structures complement them with the lightness of glazed façades and corten steel on the top. 

fuses-viader completes museum and hotel complex in a spanish 19th-century fortress
image by josep m. torra

 

fuses-viader completes museum and hotel complex in a spanish 19th-century fortress
image by carlos suárez-kilzi

 

fuses-viader completes museum and hotel complex in a spanish 19th-century fortress
corridor interconnecting exhibition spaces
image by carlos suárez-kilzi

 

fuses-viader completes museum and hotel complex in a spanish 19th-century fortress
image by carlos suárez-kilzi

 

fuses-viader completes museum and hotel complex in a spanish 19th-century fortress
image by carlos suárez-kilzi

 

fuses-viader completes museum and hotel complex in a spanish 19th-century fortress
image by carlos suárez-kilzi

 

fuses-viader completes museum and hotel complex in a spanish 19th-century fortress
image by carlos suárez-kilzi

 

fuses-viader completes museum and hotel complex in a spanish 19th-century fortress
image by carlos suárez-kilzi

 

fuses-viader completes museum and hotel complex in a spanish 19th-century fortress
views towards the hotel courtyard
image by carlos suárez-kilzi

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: maria erman | designboom