Hostel at Coma-Ruga

Location: Coma-Ruga, Spain
Arch. Coauthor: Pepe Vivas
Arch. Coll.: L. Machicao, D. Obón y E. Bertrán
Year: 2001-2003
M²: 6.000
Promoter: Tujuca S.A.
Builder: Construcciones Pedralbes

The first integral transformation project for the hostel dates from 1994. In that project it was planned to make quadruple rooms with baths where there had once been a wing for men and another for women and communal bathrooms, in accordance to new standards of use. 7 years later, we were asked to take up the project again, just that in that time the half of the building was demolished, obliging us to redraft the project from scratch (as well as from a certain mental health standpoint). The project highlight is the cross section and the cascading metal siding, which for economic reasons ended up being painted instead, covering several elements on the facade to allow another reading of the building. Changing the building entrance implied turning it around 180º without moving it.