Pompeu Fabra University Library. Adaptation of the Water Depot

Clotet, Paricio & Associats (2)
Clotet, Paricio & Associats
Ignacio Paricio Ansuátegui
Lluís Clotet i Ballús

The reservoir built by Josep Fontseré in 1874 combines the virtues of good construction, the ability to adapt to changing uses and the capacity to understand and improve the place where it is located. A magnificent example of good architecture. The building was in perfect physical condition after it was used as a pavilion at the 1888 International Fair and subsequently housed a hospital, a municipal warehouse, a film set and also became an important resting place for numerous migratory birds.

View gallery

The project proposed to demolish all the interior partitions, the central part of the intermediate slab, and to open five skylights in the geometric centre of the roof that would balance the perimeter light and establish a visual and kaleidoscopic relationship between the interior and the roof. For safety reasons, the large mass of water that was planned to be stored was never allowed to reach the upper edge of the reservoir and the new proposal replaced it with a thin sheet of water at the top. It thus improved the old image of the permanently half-empty basin and solved the problem of vertical loads, seismic actions and watertightness by reducing the weight and forming an intermediate safety chamber between the bottom of the new tank and the old one.

Lluís Casals
Lluís Casals

Inside, two elaborate precast concrete elements, one as a floor slab and the other as a support, organised discontinuous mezzanines at a height of 3 m above the floor of the hall. Treated as furniture within the enormous space, they increased the area of use, contained all the bulky installations the building required and gave rise to a great diversity of reading spaces, from very secluded and homely to others with wider views and spectacular heights.

Lluís Casals

With the exception of the new skylights, everything, including the new pond, was delicately superimposed on the building without hurting it. Everything could be dismantled so that the original support would reappear intact. The search for the formal expression of this strategy guided the project in all its aspects. Once again an exercise in reflection on the relationship between architecture and decoration.

Lluís Casals

General information

Pompeu Fabra University Library. Adaptation of the Water Depot

YEAR

1999

Status

Built

Option to visit

Free visit

Address

St. Ramon Trias Fargas, 25

08005 Barcelona - Barcelona

Latitude: 41.390559035

Longitude: 2.1889584044

Classification

Built area

5001 - 20000 m²

Awards

VI BEAU

Involved architects

Ignacio Paricio Ansuátegui

Lluís Clotet i Ballús

Involved architectural firms

Clotet, Paricio & Associats

Information provided by

MITMA

Website links

VI BEAU

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Location

41.390559035 2.1889584044 71a9e053-9350-4a37-ad5e-fe2f2f440d72 Built
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Built
Temporary
Lost
Unbuilt project

Itineraries

1990-1999

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