Renovation of a disused commercial premises in the center of El Vendrell
El Vendrell
Following the closure of a century-old business operating as a pastry workshop/bakery, it was necessary to renovate the space to adapt it to current conditions and needs in all its aspects.
We started with an existing premises on the ground floor and semi-basement, where the majority of the area was allocated to storage and the workshop, with a smaller area dedicated to the public sales space. To access the public area, at street level, there was a step that had to be overcome at the entrance. The private area was laid out over two floors, also requiring the negotiation of several stairs to reach different spaces which, moreover, lacked adequate natural light.
The proposed commercial premises lacked a predefined specific use, necessitating the design of a space that would maximize conditions for adaptability to multiple potential activities. The strategy focused on consolidating the maximum possible floor area onto a single, accessible street-level plane, thereby enhancing accessibility. An area in the basement was designated for potential storage. A crucial objective was also the introduction of natural light into what was previously a very dark volume. Finally, the design aimed to significantly increase the potential surface area for storefront displays.
The existing premises featured a substantial facade length overlooking a bustling thoroughfare. It was characterized by small fenestration that required enlargement to maximize both the display area and the penetration of natural light. As the building’s facades are designated as protected (or listed), the modification of these openings was strictly governed by a specific compositional criterion for the elevation. We seized the opportunity to impose order on the disparate and somewhat irregular existing window configuration, bringing the fenestration into alignment with the appropriate architectural rhythm and proportion.
The various interventions had to be executed while maintaining an acute awareness of the building’s context: an old, four-story structure characterized by stone load-bearing walls and timber-beamed ceilings. The existing structure was not in optimal condition, having reached the end of its useful life, thus mandating a comprehensive structural reinforcement program.
Our intervention also successfully increased the clear height of the public area, which, furthermore, facilitated the installation of a suspended ceiling designed to conceal air conditioning units and accommodate a comprehensive ceiling-mounted lighting scheme. Concurrently, the existing building systems—covering water, electricity supply, and drainage/sanitation—were fully upgraded and modernized.
Every commercial space necessitates restroom facilities. Given the presence of an interior courtyard and following a thorough study of the existing sewage network, we opted to locate the restroom with direct access to this patio. This configuration ensures natural lighting and ventilation for the facility, while simultaneously providing maintenance access to the courtyard area.
Our clients noted that during construction, their premises began to “attract many suitors” (an idiomatic expression signifying that something is generating significant interest). In this instance, even before the completion of the renovation—for a premises that initially lacked a “specifically defined” function—a concrete use was secured. The inaugural tenant is a chain of opticians. This franchise was able to swiftly adapt the space to its specific operational requirements. This adaptation work, including the fit-out, was carried out by their own designers and is distinct from the scope of work by entropia arquitectura; in other words, we are not the authors of the interior design and layout of the occupied optical store.
We are confident that, should the necessity arise, the resulting space from our project and construction will be capable of accommodating a variety of different uses.
Location: El Vendrell
Client: Private (or Developer: Private)
Built Area: 160 m2