Unusual home and architectural studio in an old cement factory in Barcelona

Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill lives and works in an old factory near Barcelona in a fully preserved architectural construction. His home and studio are “hidden” behind the walls of a factory built after the First World War in a characteristic brutalist style. What’s even more interesting is the interior where Bofill and his guests walk past the old silos.

The space has maintained the old industrial spirit thanks to the preserved factory architecture. The interior has an almost surreal atmosphere with the old walls, floors, windows of the old building preserved in its entirety. The home looks like taken out of a science fiction movie, with iron constructions, high staircases that lead nowhere. The industrial architecture is in a harmonious combination with the modern furniture and the whole mix creates a magical and unique space.

Bofill begins the conversion of industrial complex since 1973. The whole factory covers an area of over 3000m2, with over 30 silos, large rooms with technical equipment and underground working areas. After two years of work the space is now divided into a large architectural studio with spacious office, gallery, fantastic green garden that looks like a small jungle and a comfortable home. The grandiose space looks like a small town amidst the abandoned industrial factory.

The interior is modern with industrial note and a relaxed atmosphere. Although industrial, the entire area is full of natural light thanks to the numerous windows in the structure. Apart from the standard renovation, demolition of part of the walls to make way for spacious rooms, one of the most creative moves was bringing greenery in the entire factory. Bofill started planting greenery around the plant and on the rooftops. The entire industrial complex is covered with lush vegetation and transformed into a green oasis, which “embraces” and hides the factory from the world.

(Photo Credits: Richard Powers; Ricardo Bofill)