b-ing Architecture
R02: CaixaForum Barcelona Restaurant
Turull Sørensen Architects
The extraordinary building that today accommodates the CaixaForum Barcelona in the Monjuïc area has recently been provided with a refurbished restaurant, architects Turull Sørensen who also designed the stunning Maná 75° restaurant in the Barceloneta neighbourhood, have created a space that showcases the architecture of the original building as well as providing a comfortable place to dine. The architect’s main objective was to achieve the same experiential standards of quality and comfort offered by the art gallery itself, not only with its interesting exhibitions but also its location; the emblematic Casaramona factory built in 1913 designed by Josep Puig I Cadafalch in the local modernisme style.
Originally designed as a textile factory Casaramona is a brick building organised as a series of free standing pavilions with streets and passageways between that are unusual in their rich architectural detailing and abundance of natural light. The restaurant occupies an entire pavilion, inside the feeling of the gallery space is maintained, the inner walls are lined with a lower perimeter of benches and tables, over which posters printed on fabrics of emblematic exhibitions held at CaixaForum are on display, like works of art. The external facade contains row of windows framed with oak wood panels that generate a series of framed views, partial views of the Puig i Cadafalch factory pavilions, incorporating them with the other art works exhibited in the restaurant.
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Considering the historical importance of the building the refurbishment project for the restaurant aims to draw attention to the work of Cadafalch, while also serving to promote the exhibitions and diverse cultural activities offered by the gallery.
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TThe restaurant and kitchen occupy the ground floor of the west facing pavilion of the old factory facing C/ Morabos with additional space for the kitchen services on a lower level. For the restaurant interior the character and personality of the building are reinforced through a series of interventions that organise the space in a new way by disassociating it from the building’s structural elements. The verticality and rhythm of the facades is emphasised by drawing greater attention to the original iron columns, trusses and Catalan vaults so characteristic of the building.
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The interior facades underline this vertical rhyme, with a set of different upholstered panels, interspersed with posters of emblematic exhibitions and the wide range of cultural activities of the centre. The use of wall upholstery, together with that used for the seating and furniture, also provides greater acoustic comfort.
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In order to accommodate the wide variety of uses happening within the restaurant throughout the day four automatic sliding doors have been constructed, which when open are hidden behind the walls, allowing the space to be subdivided according to specific requirements. These sliding walls match the fixed walls, appearing as an elongation of the existing fabric.
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The terraces of the restaurant are located on both sides of the building, creating a vegetable filter separating, more fresh and friendly, with adjacent streets The views of the terraces from the windows of the room, become a frame to a small indoor garden of Casaramona.
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- R02 – Restaurante Museo CaixaForum Barcelona
- C/ Mèxic 36-44, Barcelona
- www.turullsorensen.com
- All phots: © Meritxell Arjalaguer, Turull Sørensen Architects and CaixaForum Barcelona