Oliva Artés Museum reclaimed and transformed with simple interventions

In Barcelona, the Oliva Artes Museum reclaims and transforms a much-loved industrial building from the 1920s by adding simple layers to adapt it to its new use.

Slated for demolition in 2008 as part of the Poble Nou Central Park project, a neighbourhood association dedicated to the industrial heritage of the Poble Nou was ultimately able to convince the town council of the need to preserve the building, which had fallen into a state of ruin.

BAAS Architects were the subsequent winners of a competition held in 2009 to transform the industrial artefact. Their winning-scheme aims to preserve the special character of the building, and in particular, the richness of its exterior space. New elements inserted are the very minimum required for building operation and are constructed with a single gold material, which adds a striking yet not overpowering element of contrast and interest.

Inspired by the region’s vernacular architecture, a new porch runs the length of the façade, providing shelter while encouraging an open relationship between the museum and the park.

Ongoing government austerity measures continued throughout the design process, resulting in a tight project budget. As a result, the architects were forced to strip the proposal of anything not strictly necessary. The architects note that opportunity was found in this constraint as the resulting building has a simplicity that enhances the existing architecture.