The project transforms a former office building that housed a call center into a university space, located in an area of Málaga characterized by commercial activity and a scarcity of public spaces. The intervention addresses this need by opening the building’s ground floor to the city, blurring the boundaries between the building and public space.

The university’s online nature introduces an additional challenge: the building must be able to foster a sense of identity without relying on a daily physical presence. Since this is an educational model in which many students attend only occasionally during the academic year, the challenge is to foster a sense of attachment and belonging even from a distance by incorporating references linked to the local Andalusian tradition.

This is achieved by reinterpreting two essential elements of Andalusian culture: the patio and esparto grass.

The courtyard becomes the heart of the building, reinforcing the idea of a ground floor that is open to the city and conceived as an extension of public space. Drawing inspiration from the traditional Mediterranean courtyard, it brings in natural light, promotes cross-ventilation, and incorporates vegetation, helping to break down the barrier between interior and exterior and creating a single campus within the building.

The project also explores esparto, a Mediterranean fiber currently falling into disuse, which is linked to the region, local craftsmanship, and the Andalusian economy. Used as a solar and atmospheric filter, it regulates radiation and gives the building an identity rooted in the local context. Its use connects education with the circular economy, local production, and traditional knowledge.

These elements foster the transmission of knowledge through architecture. Thus, the project views education not only as an academic activity but as a shared experience, open to public participation and rooted in the local context.