fernandez abascal + muruzabal architects: comillas university renovation

‘comillas university renovation’ by fernandez-abascal + muruzabal architects,pesquera ularrgui arquitectos, and alonso and barrientos architects comillas, spainimage © duccio malagambaall images courtesy of fernandez-abascal + muruzabal architects

falling prey to some early catalan modernist interventions before being completely abandoned in the 90’s, the ‘comillas university seminar’ renovationby local firms fernandez-abascal + muruzabal architects, pesquera ularrgui arquitectos, and alonso and barrientos architects restores the dilapidated building to its original form with moments of contemporary language creating a dialogue with the classical order. the central portion of the structure which contains the grand hall and church were carefully and intensively restored with a slue of artists re-touching the original artwork and engravings to restore the space to its original splendor. the lateral cloisters were dealt with in a more liberal manner, redefining the spaces and materials to a contemporary functionalism, opening the attics with a new smooth concrete wall that reflects natural light into the corridors and rooms. the new modern partition dictates a new order of elements whose services are located at the original towers, allowing the stretch in between to enjoy a higher programmatic flexibility. light douglas pine planks make up the new interior floors as a markedly different space than the strictly restored entrance area.

(left) original entrance(right) fusion of contemporary and ancientimage © duccio malagamba

updated circulation allows natural light insideimage © duccio malagamba

image © duccio malagamba

updated spaces with restored historical elementsimage © duccio malagamba

classrooms with newly opened windows for plenty of lightimage © duccio malagamba

image © duccio malagamba

bathroomimage © duccio malagamba

attic lounge areaimage © duccio malagamba

new light-filled corridorsimage © duccio malagamba

rehabilitated courtyardimage © duccio malagamba

entrance hallimage © duccio malagamba

conference roomimage © duccio malagamba

image © duccio malagamba

original structure

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project info:

architects: alberto alonso ortiz, joaquín barrientos barquín, eduardo fdez.-abascal teira, floren muruzábal sitges, eduardo pesquera gonzálezjesús ulargui agurruzalocation: comillas. cantabriasize: 17.484 m2 / phase 1 8.869 m2budget: phase 1 i23.374.825,02 euroscollaborators: cristina gómez abecia/carlos gómez santos, arquitectosengineers: roma ingeniería technical architect: alfonso cuenca/dolores rebanalstructural: francisco de la torre, estudio de ingeniería dynamis, miguel terán garridomep: jg inconorothers: enrique campuzano, historical study; nuria garcía, material study; toni cumella, ceramic church interventionclient: sociedad activos inmobiliarios campus comillasdates: 2007-2010photography: duccio malagamba