An obsolete factory in the Poblenou neighbourhood of Barcelona has been thoughtfully restored by Spanish architectural studio b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos. Once the Simon electrical material factory, the building has been transformed into Simon’s new corporate headquarters. Simon was first established in 1916 in the Catalonian town of Olot. The heritage brand is a specialist in electronics, providing technical solutions for lighting, connectivity, and electrical equipment. Electrical switches are one of Simon’s trademark products: the newly revamped Barcelona HQ is symbolically named SWITCH, an acronym for “Simon Worldwide Innovation Talent Community Hub”. 

Blending industrial heritage and modern innovation

Simon’s new 10,160-square-metre HQ was completed by b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos (b720) in collaboration with Estudi Antoni Arola, Estudi Jordi Tamayo, Katty Schiebeck Studio, and MMAS Lighting. The project brings together over 350 employees from two separate Barcelona office locations into one.

The disused Simon factory, an industrial concrete building, was constructed in the second half of the 20th century. When transforming the premises, b720 ensured the project retained the old factory’s architectural essence while introducing modern elements necessary for its new role as a corporate HQ. 

The building’s conversion contributes to 22@Barcelona, an urban regeneration project that has transformed approximately 200 hectares of former industrial land in the Poblenou neighbourhood into an innovation district. By recovering the old factory building, the project establishes a connection between preserving the neighbourhood’s industrial heritage and its readiness to be transformed. The new Simon HQ enjoys a more open relationship with its surroundings, unlike the old factory, which was relatively closed off from the city.

Urban infrastructure

The building’s lower floors are accessible to the public, while its upper floors house a series of workspaces. The upper floors open onto the city via glazed apertures that b720 describes as “more than just windows.” They have an architectural depth and symmetry that strengthen the building’s sense of presence and serve as a form of urban infrastructure. The windows are designed to facilitate the assembly of short-term installations that will enhance the building’s participation in neighbourhood events, for instance Llum BCN, an annual light arts festival held in Poblenou.

Prolonging the concrete grid’s life

In its approach to rehabilitating the old factory, b720 carefully prolonged the useful life of the building’s reinforced concrete grid. The old Simon factory’s concrete structure features a regular grid of porticoes, ribs, and slabs on the interior, while the facade has a neutral, repetitive lattice that is a window, a sunshade, and a support all in one. To determine which interventions were necessary, b720 began with a thorough diagnosis of the building’s state. Lesions in the concrete were carefully repaired and certain areas were chosen for demolition to generate new communication and work areas. Any traces of the interventions are not hidden but can be seen as subtle nuances in the concrete’s materiality, akin to scars that become integral to the building’s history.

Taking advantage of the concrete grid, b720 removed old masonry sills and any enclosures no longer in use. “The openings are transformed by incorporating a new cassette-type element capable of reconfiguring this interstitial space in a simple, elegant, and repetitive manner that, at the same time, meets the technical requirements demanded of it,” explains the studio. A deep aluminium frame protects and regulates the perimeter of the opening, integrating a glass balustrade. This new glazed enclosure provides high insulation and solar control performance. The frames are hidden behind the perimeter mouths, creating a clean void that encourages light and reflection. This contrasts with and enhances the concrete’s patina and materiality.

A model of adaptive reuse

The old Simon factory retains its original layout and construction, featuring bright, open spaces. Newly configured routes and vertical cores have been added, along with upgraded facilities and equipment. The roof has also been repurposed as a communal garden space with photovoltaic panels. Intelligent management is used to optimise the building’s efficiency.

With a forward-thinking blend of industrial heritage conservation, modern eco-efficiency, and social sustainability, SWITCH serves as an example for the adaptive reuse of industrial buildings.