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VIRREINA
VIRREINA
Barcelona, Spain
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Other Projects by Nook Architects
VIRREINA
Barcelona, Spain
This project initially targeted three rooms in the Palau de la Virreina that provide access to the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona’s offices, ICUB, in a clear bid to modernise and reinforce the centre’s institutional identity through a light and respectful intervention that preserves the building’s historical character.
Each decision was guided by two main principles: on the one hand, culture understood as a shared, horizontal and accessible space; and, on the other, the architectural space itself as a medium, boundary and framework for the public experience. These values, included in the analysis, are reflected in the application of different strategies to the space, such as horizontality, continuity and reflections as a metaphor for the blurring of boundaries and inclusion.
The project opened up the perimeter of the three rooms as much as possible, viewing it as the most sensitive yet effective surface for reshaping the perception of the space without affecting its historic materiality. Thus, the introduction of green – already present in varying manners throughout the building – onto the surfaces of the enclosures helps weave a cohesive narrative between the pre-existing elements and the new design strategies.
The geometry of the vaulted rooms in the Palau de la Virreina was another point of reference when creating the partition elements within the first two rooms. These panels or partitions serve both as functional elements and spatial devices capable of transforming the perception of the rooms without directly altering the historical architecture. They are objects that do not touch the building, but engage it in dialogue, enhancing its depth, textures and light through their steel materiality with varying degrees of reflectivity. The reflective quality is not so much decorative as relational. By reflecting the immediate surroundings and enhancing the unique geometry of each room – even breaking this dividing line to further blur the boundaries – the partitions transform the space not through addition, but through resonance: they cause the existing elements to replicate and multiply, creating a visual interplay that softens the edges and promotes the open perception sought from the outset. Lastly, the use of red on the substructure is a subtle nod to the Barcelona Municipal Council’s corporate image, further bolstered by select items of furniture.
The other elements featured in the project, such as the counter and auxiliary furniture, were conceived as a set of movable, practical and highly specialised pieces, designed to meet the Barcelona Institute of Culture's various requirements for entryways to facilities of this nature. The furniture designed for the project reflects the light and respectful approach to renovating the Palau de la Virreina that guides the entire intervention. They are elements intended to adapt to the changing use of the space through mobile, practical and unobtrusive solutions. Their presence never competes with the historical architecture; rather, they act as contemporary elements capable of coexisting in harmony with such heritage.
Overall, the project transforms the first three entrance rooms of the Palau de la Virreina subtly, trusting that small gestures – carefully articulated through geometry, colour and light materials – can profoundly change the experience of the space.
Each decision was guided by two main principles: on the one hand, culture understood as a shared, horizontal and accessible space; and, on the other, the architectural space itself as a medium, boundary and framework for the public experience. These values, included in the analysis, are reflected in the application of different strategies to the space, such as horizontality, continuity and reflections as a metaphor for the blurring of boundaries and inclusion.
The project opened up the perimeter of the three rooms as much as possible, viewing it as the most sensitive yet effective surface for reshaping the perception of the space without affecting its historic materiality. Thus, the introduction of green – already present in varying manners throughout the building – onto the surfaces of the enclosures helps weave a cohesive narrative between the pre-existing elements and the new design strategies.
The geometry of the vaulted rooms in the Palau de la Virreina was another point of reference when creating the partition elements within the first two rooms. These panels or partitions serve both as functional elements and spatial devices capable of transforming the perception of the rooms without directly altering the historical architecture. They are objects that do not touch the building, but engage it in dialogue, enhancing its depth, textures and light through their steel materiality with varying degrees of reflectivity. The reflective quality is not so much decorative as relational. By reflecting the immediate surroundings and enhancing the unique geometry of each room – even breaking this dividing line to further blur the boundaries – the partitions transform the space not through addition, but through resonance: they cause the existing elements to replicate and multiply, creating a visual interplay that softens the edges and promotes the open perception sought from the outset. Lastly, the use of red on the substructure is a subtle nod to the Barcelona Municipal Council’s corporate image, further bolstered by select items of furniture.
The other elements featured in the project, such as the counter and auxiliary furniture, were conceived as a set of movable, practical and highly specialised pieces, designed to meet the Barcelona Institute of Culture's various requirements for entryways to facilities of this nature. The furniture designed for the project reflects the light and respectful approach to renovating the Palau de la Virreina that guides the entire intervention. They are elements intended to adapt to the changing use of the space through mobile, practical and unobtrusive solutions. Their presence never competes with the historical architecture; rather, they act as contemporary elements capable of coexisting in harmony with such heritage.
Overall, the project transforms the first three entrance rooms of the Palau de la Virreina subtly, trusting that small gestures – carefully articulated through geometry, colour and light materials – can profoundly change the experience of the space.
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