OCULUM, the new reception of the Institute of Ocular Microsurgery of Madrid, seeks a link between the worlds of ophthalmology and architecture, which finds and unfolds its spatial narrative around optical devices, such as lenses, photometers, refractometers and microscopes.

OCULUM is designed as a visually technological space which processes, from the generation of the idea to its construction, are completely innovative and handcrafted, and made from a non-existent product on the market, manufactured by a metalworker in an industrial warehouse in the Madrid neighborhood of Tetuán.

OCULUM is a continuous system that consists of a 41,5 by 2.96 meters metallic ribbon that fits like a glove into the existing space. A continuous enclosure formed by 17 light boxes with a depth of 6 cm and a 4 mm opal white methacrylate in its interior, illuminated by wired and encapsulated led modules with optical lens; all of this, covered by 13 aluminum plates lacquered in a textured 9006 RAL with its front cut out by circular figures.

OCULUM is conceived as an architectural device: a large luminaire made up of 1184 lenses that emit a constant and homogeneous light that enlarges and magnifies the foyer, while enveloping, looking at and welcoming the visitor to the ophthalmological centre. Thanks to the reflections, refractions and backlight effects, the notions and limits between interior / exterior, public / private, and inside / outside, are altered in order to achieve a magical atmosphere in the place.

OCULUM is also a tribute to Jean Prouvé’s dream and his tenacious experimental search in the world of prefabrication, to classic Barbarella film by Roger Vadim, starring Jane Fonda under the circular spotlights of film studios and her space-age wardrobe created by Paco Rabanne, and to the fashion designer and architect himself and his best geometric designs, which also included circles.

Client Grupo Miranza

Architecture gon (Gonzalo Pardo)

Team Carol Pierina Linares, María Cecilia Cordero, Iván Rando

Project manager Marta Sánchez Salas

Carpentry Ancordarq S.L.

Panels Rótulos Argoneón S.L.U.

Front desk Abalit Elementos Moldeados S.L.

Lighting Oliva iluminación

Photography Imagen Subliminal (Miguel de Guzmán + Rocío Romero)

Video Ismyshot (Ismael Arriola) + Andrés Álvarez