RAW/deAbajoGarcia builds community center in spain as a large timber canopy

developed as a community center in reinosa, spain, the IMPLUVIUM  by RAW/deAbajoGarcia is built as a large laminated timber roof structure. with its components industrialized and assembled on site, the architecture replaces a former market demolished by a fire. the roof, together with four boxes that arise from the ground, offer the necessary infrastructure for many events to take place – both spontaneous and programmed.

the wooden lattice filters the light and adds privacy
image © montse zamorano

RAW/deAbajoGarcia‘s squared plan of the community center photographed by montse zamorano is organized by the strategic location of the mentioned boxes, and a courtyard that polarizes the interiors. the courtyard is decentralized to generate different spatial scales on the ground level – with its floor is lowered and moved in relation with the glass enclosure. this generates shaded sitting areas on the outside during summer, and an indoor adjacent bench that receives direct sunlight through the windows during winter.  additionally, the ground floor is in continuity with the site level on the south, extending the public space towards the inside and visually connecting the whole building to the street.

aerial view of the building downtown reinosa
image © aerophoto

finally, the strategy used in section allows the introduction of a mezzanine that is hung from the main structure and offers higher privacy. its location in the perimeter creates a lineal layout for the plan with a more individual scale, taking advantage of the natural light filtered by the wooden lattice that surrounds the building. ‘the variety of particular situations, in and by the courtyard, around the space or in front of the building, generates a great flexibility of use without loosing the specificity of the different scenarios,’ notes the architects. 

the first floor is hanging from the macro-structure of the building
image © montse zamorano

the western side is more permeable to get in light at sunset
image © montse zamorano

interior courtyard
image © montse zamorano

first floor view towards the courtyard
image © montse zamorano

the interior space in the first floor is pillar free, allowing a multi-use of space
image © montse zamorano

second floor is visually connected to the first floor
image © montse zamorano

the building filters the light at night
image © montse zamorano

a big roof for a new community center
image © montse zamorano

project info:

architects: RAW/deabajogarcia – begoña de abajo castrillo & carlos garcía fernández
collaborators: antonio rincón, architect jesús gangas; quantity surveyor miguel a. palencia ; quantity surveyor (competition) juan f. de la torre (EUTECA SL); structure PROYECTA SL, mechanical
contractor: fernández rosillo SL

project type: competition, 1st prize
program: community center in reinosa
location: plaza de abastos s/n reinosa, cantabria, spain 43.002236, -4.137377  
date: 05.2014 – 09.2016
built surface: 1500 sqm

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: lea zeitoun | designboom