twobo uncovers subterranean world 'aigües de vilajuïga' that had never seen the light of day

catalan firm twobo arquitectura, together with architect luis twose, realize a surreal, subterranean space entitled ‘aigües de vilajuïga.’ the project, expressive of brick vaulting and exposed stone, is sited in vilajuïga, catalonia and can only be understood with the essence and presence of the water flowing beneath it. since the beginning of the 20th century, an underground aquifer of carbonated water has flown continually below, as wells and buildings scattered in the area mark the tip of a world that has never seen the light of day. excavating the earth surrounding a circular water tank reaching down six meters, the team exposes and exhibits the underground foundations of vilajuïga.

images by josé hevia

twobo and luis twose introduce the new underground world of the ‘aigües de vilajuïga’ without impacting the surface above ground. the team comments: ‘the atmosphere of what was there seemed timeless and worth keeping intact.’ a 19th century stone farmhouse on the site served as a stylistic framework. excavating the ground below, the team seeks to celebrate the experience of traveling deep underground for water in a way that is tangible for visitors. the project ‘digs, descends and brings to the spotlight what’s usually hidden.’

commenting on the process of forming the ‘aigües de vilajuïga,’ twobo comments: ‘we dug around the tank until we could see the round wall from the outside. and through the wall we stepped inside, displacing the water to a layer on top and using its reflections to fill up this new space, like memories enabled by skylights in the ceiling. submerged skylights.’ the team makes space for both light and people into the underground site of ‘aigües de vilajuïga.’ light slips in like water, filling the space freely from the vertical drop of the skylights. visitors are meanwhile invited to gradually descend a set of sweeping ramps, from the bright surface into the twilight where the water used to quietly flow.

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project info:

project title: aigües de vilajuïga

architecture: luis twose with twobo

location: vilajuïga, catalonia, spain

collaborators: anna sala, raquel vicente, ourania chamilaki

structural engineering: bernuz fernadez

completion: 2019

photography: josé hevia