Originally built in 1905 by the architect Luis de Landecho, who also designed Madrid’s Ritz Hotel and Athenaeum cultural institute, the building once supplied energy to the surrounding areas.
This retrofit project transforms a historic industrial building and the surrounding area in Madrid to create over 10,000m² of new office space. The project capitalises on the existing loadbearing structure that supports the pitched steel trusses and the historic building envelope has been retained to conserve over 10,000 tonnes of original brick and mitigate the environmental impact.
A lightweight structure inserted into the space is made from sustainably sourced timber from local forests and allows for spatial flexibility while also integrating lighting, ventilation and other services. This timber structure aims to save more than 1,600 tonnes of CO2 and is recyclable and demountable. It has a 1.0 Planet Ecological Footprint, meaning its carbon emissions will be absorbed by the current capacity of the Earth. This achieves the balance of sources and sinks required by the Paris Agreement, with its environmental impact compatible with the original +2°C target.
You can read more about these proposals at: Building re-use