The idea of a distinctive building, detached from the history of the previous occupant, led us to consider the demolition of the existing exterior grid.

Naturally, the logic emerged in taking advantage of the richness and materiality of the stone as the main skin, intending to make it functional, efficient and modern.

Through the repetition and sobriety of the gesture that is intrinsic to the building, we have accentuated geometry and opened up space for detailed design, worked on a detailed scale to enrich the façade.

This goldsmith’s work on the façade, without demolishing any of the existing stone elements, is a way of highlighting the architectural value of this property and bringing a new reading to the light of a contemporary panorama that is intended to be more efficient.

The façade proposal consists of the desire to give the building a distinctive image and at the same time improve its energy performance, meeting all the sustainability requirements for a ‘best in class’ corporate building.

The approach is based on 3 layers of perception:

1. Preservation of the existing stone façade, cleaning it and repairing any surfaces that may be damaged when the external grid is removed.

2. Creation of a ventilated façade module, consisting of a concave profile frame in champagne-coloured anodised aluminium, which appears in the continuity of the stone blocks that surround the opening, drawing a semi-sphere volumetry. This design provides a projected window effect, which favours city reflections and changes the exterior perception of the building in an identifiable way.

3. Application of an exterior metal frame. This frame contributes to shading at the most vertically orientated heights and provides an in-depth reading of the façade’s rhythm, accentuating the design’s metrics.

The city and building scale are closely linked, and it was our intention to transpose this into the perception of the building. Just as we wanted to introduce shops on the ground and first floors, the ground floor also has a different reading from the rest of the office building.

The office centre’s reception area is intended to be spacious, sober and convey the solidity of a modern corporate building.

The core’s volume is accentuated with textured white stone mosaic tiles, reinterpreting the curved lines that already characterise the building’s stone design. Walnut wood appears as a counterpoint to warm up the space and give it a human scale.