Siroko, the Asturian sportswear and accessories brand, has opened its first concept store in Barcelona in collaboration with architecture and interior design studio El Departamento. Located at 113 Rambla de Catalunya, the 149-square-meter space explores the relationship between natural environments and sports technology through a series of spatial and material transitions. This is the second collaboration between Siroko and El Departamento, following the brand’s flagship store in Madrid. The Barcelona project continues the established design direction while introducing new conceptual and material strategies. The store is organized as a sequence of interconnected rooms, each treated as a discrete volume that accommodates a specific part of the retail program. These spaces are defined by their independent lighting schemes and distinct atmospheres, creating a spatial rhythm that supports the brand’s narrative.

El Departamento’s approach references elemental natural forms, such as ice, stone, earth, and vegetation, and translates them into a spatial language informed by sports technology. This creates a continuous dialogue between organic textures and synthetic materials. The palette relies on earthy tones, with an emphasis on blue, and includes modular, reconfigurable display systems that balance adaptability with visual coherence.

all images by Jonathan Ristagno

Modular Systems and Lighting schemes Shape the space

Lighting plays a central role in defining the spatial experience. Each room is equipped with ceiling-mounted light panels operating independently, reinforcing the segmented structure of the space. Integrated lighting within the display cabinetry further supports visual continuity and enhances product presentation. At the core of the store is the ‘Siroko Custom’ zone, which reprises elements from the Madrid location. The space features an open-grid ceiling (tramex) supported by a structural system that also functions as a vertical product display. Materials such as micro-perforated metal sheets and stainless steel contribute to a tactile and technical visual identity, while also allowing textures to shift under changing light conditions.

Ultimately, this project encapsulates studio El Departamento’s vision of contemporary retail, where spatial experience transcends traditional commercial function to become a full immersion into Siroko’s values. Through the interplay of material, light, and spatial sequence, the store presents a considered response to contemporary retail design. With this opening, Siroko expands its physical presence in Spain, reinforcing a brand image defined by technical precision and engagement with the outdoor environment.

Siroko opens its first concept store in Barcelona in collaboration with El Departamento

a sequence of rooms creates a rhythm of distinct spatial experiences

each room functions as an individual volume within the retail journey

independent lighting schemes define atmosphere and orientation

modular display systems adapt to different product arrangements

ceiling-mounted light panels operate independently in each room

organic textures are combined with synthetic materials

integrated lighting enhances product presentation and material depth

a distinctive open-grid ceiling links this store to its Madrid counterpart

micro-perforated metal sheets contribute to a technical visual identity

the design balances retail functionality with brand storytelling

Siroko’s Barcelona store strengthens its identity through spatial design

project info:

name: Siroko Concept Store Barcelona

architect: El Departamento | @eldepartamento.estudio

area: 149 sqm

location: 113 Rambla de Catalunya, 08008, Barcelona

lead architects: Alberto Eltini & Marina Martín

construction company: Triangular

lighting: Ilumisa

furniture design: El Departamento

mirrors: El Departamento

textiles: Deco&You

screens: Mood Media

photographer: Jonathan Ristagno | @jonathanristagno

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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An apartment, or ‘piso’ designed by Isern Serra, sits in the vibrant heart of the Barcelona‘s seaside neighborhood of Barceloneta. Within its walls, collectible design and Mediterranean sensibilities meet to create an interior that feels at once curated and deeply personal, all documented by photographer Salva López. 

Barceloneta’s narrow streets and maritime character provide a fitting backdrop for an apartment that balances contemporary expression with a respect for history. The project begins with the removal of the original partitions that fragmented the space, making way for an open-plan layout that draws natural light across the living, kitchen, and dining areas. A balcony extending the length of the facade connects the apartment to its surroundings, while the more private bedroom suites are tucked near the entrance.

images © Salva López

isern serra’s gallery for living in barceloneta

Isern Serra conceives the interiors of his Piso Balconetta are conceived as a living gallery. The Catalan designer assembles a selection of objects, furniture, and artworks chosen as much for their emotional resonance as their aesthetic value. Pieces from emerging artists and established designers stand side by side, forging connections between eras and disciplines. Mid-century classics sourced from Fenix Originals and Polop Store share space with contemporary works from Vasto Gallery and other independent studios.

Materials play a central role in shaping the apartment’s atmosphere. Warm woods, hand-finished ceramics, and patinated metals contribute a tactile richness. A built-in concrete sofa anchors the living area, its robust form softened by linen cushions and complemented by collectible design pieces such as the waxed aluminum Section Coffee Table by Paul Coenen and Philippe Starck’s Dr. Sonderbar Chair.

Isern Serra transforms a historic apartment in Barceloneta into an open-plan living gallery

spaces unified by mediterranean craft

Microcement unifies flooring and walls in a single tone, as Isern Serra reinforces visual continuity and enhancing the sense of calm throughout his Piso Barceloneta. The kitchen, crafted in natural oak, introduces warmth and contrast, framed by curved walls that define the cooking area as a sculptural element within the space. A built-in concrete island, softened by rounded corners, serves as both workspace and gathering point.

Vintage stools from the 1960s lend character to the kitchen island, while a handcrafted dining table by Fusteria Vidal anchors the dining area. Overhead, 1987 Santa & Cole Sísísí lamps and a mix of vintage Markelius and Quadra chairs create a dialogue between past and present.

interior partitions are removed to create a continuous space flooded with natural light

In the bedroom, texture takes precedence. A large artwork by Mark Bohle sets a contemplative tone, complemented by the warm glow of Jaume Ramirez’s Fragile Lamp for Marset. A Cambier Studio L4 stool and Andreu Jaumot’s J45 lamp introduce elements of emerging design, adding layers of personality.

The bathroom continues the theme of material simplicity. Translucent glass bricks filter daylight from the building’s inner patio, preserving privacy while illuminating the space. Microcement extends across floors, walls, and ceiling, with a small circular opening in the shower partition creating visual connection throughout.

A second bathroom finished entirely in dark green microcement forms a deliberate contrast within the apartment’s otherwise neutral palette. Rather than appearing as an isolated statement, it integrates naturally into the broader narrative — a space that embraces both minimalism and bold gestures.

a built-in concrete sofa and collectible design pieces anchor the living area with texture and form

the kitchen features natural oak cabinetry and a sculptural concrete island

microcement floors and walls establish visual continuity and a serene, Mediterranean atmosphere

a bathroom is illuminated through a wall of glass blocks

vintage and contemporary furniture from Vasto Gallery, Fenix Originals, and Polop Store create layered character

project info:

name: Piso Barceloneta

designer: Isern Serra | @isernserra

location: Barceloneta, Barcelona, Spain

team leader, styling: Aasheen Mittal

photography: © Salva López | @salvalopez

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In Barcelona’s Raval district, MIAS Architects completes Lady Raval, a social housing project that revitalizes a once-fragmented building. Positioned on the emblematic Hospital Street, the team revamps a historic structure, weaving in the cultural richness of the neighborhood and the lived experiences of its community. Awarded first prize in the city’s competition, the restoration transforms a decaying apartment block into a bright housing complex built around a richly detailed central courtyard.

At the center of the transformation is the courtyard, brought back to life as both the heart of the building and a space shared by everyone who lives there. Once closed off and cluttered, it’s been opened up and redesigned as a calm, welcoming area that connects all the homes. The architecture here tells a story using textured walls, handmade ceramics, and colors inspired by everyday objects like fabrics, food, and tools. These elements reflect the different cultures and backgrounds of the people who live in Raval, many of whom are returning to live in this newly restored space. ‘The project is both a refurbishment of a historic building in central Barcelona and a tribute to the memory and cultural roots of its inhabitants,’ notes Josep Miàs, director and founder of MIAS Architects.

all images by Adrià Goula

lady raval transformed by removing additions

Internationally recognized MIAS Architects maintains the integrity of the original structure while reconfiguring the interior into a series of open, light-filled spaces that invite connection and comfort. Lady Raval is made up of two parts, one facing the street and another L-shaped wing that wraps around its central courtyard. Over the years, these spaces had been broken up into tiny units, with makeshift additions, even on the roof, making the building feel cramped and chaotic. The architectural team removed these additions and brought back a clearer layout, with two apartments per floor in the front building and three per floor in the wing. They kept the two staircases, added a lift in each section to make the building accessible, and a shop on the ground floor that still opens out onto the street, staying part of the daily life of the neighborhood.

MIAS Architects use handmade ceramic tiles in the courtyard

ceramic tiles narrate the residents’ personal stories

Working closely with architect and ceramist Carlos Jiménez Cenamor, MIAS Architects use handmade ceramic frames in the courtyard to bring in patterns and shapes inspired by the cultural backgrounds of the residents. These ceramic details are tied to personal and collective stories, helping the space feel familiar and full of meaning. The colors are bright and warm, and together with plants that hang from balconies, they give the courtyard a sense of life.

MIAS redesigned Lady Raval’s circulation areas, staircases, landings, and hallways so they feel open and welcoming. With added windows and carefully placed openings, light passes through the whole building, and people can see and connect with each other.

at the center of the project is the courtyard

these ceramic details are tied to personal and collective stories

the colors are bright and warm, reviving the space

bringing in patterns and shapes inspired by the cultural backgrounds of the residents

these elements reflect the different cultures and backgrounds of the people who live in Raval

MIAS Architects maintains the integrity of the original structure

reconfiguring the interior into a series of open, light-filled spaces

the project transforms a decaying apartment block into a bright housing complex

project info:

name: Lady Raval

architect: MIAS Architects | @miasarchitects

location: Raval, Barcelona, Spain

ceramics: Carlos Jiménez Cenamor (DelAmorYlaBelleza) | @delamorylabelleza

photographer: Adrià Goula | @adriagoulaphoto

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Casa Batlló, one of Antoni Gaudí’s most emblematic residential works, has been undergoing an ambitious process of restoration over the past year, led by architect Xavier Villanueva. The project, now set to open to the public on June 19th, focuses on returning the vivid intricacy of the building’s rear facade, private courtyard, and garden to their original condition as first designed in 1906. This period marked Gaudí’s mature phase within the Catalan modernisme movement in which he began synthesizing structural experimentation, ornamental craft, and spatial poetry into unified architectural compositions.

Over the years, the iconic dragon-scaled elevation has continued to draw crowds as it animates the Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona, while also becoming a platform for key cultural initiatives, from Sofia Crespo’s projection-mapped facade to Kengo Kuma’s shimmering staircase and Refik Anadol’s digital interventions. While that elevation has evolved into an icon of modern Barcelona, the lesser-seen rear facade remained largely hidden from view as its character gradually faded with time and became obscured by later additions over the past century. Now, as Casa Batlló marks 20 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the concealed domestic spaces are set to reemerge with the clarity and vibrancy Gaudí intended.

Restoration teams uncovered the original hues of the stucco, ironwork, and carpentry hidden beneath layers of pale repainting, while discovering previously unseen spatial and structural features such as a spiral-shaped vaulted support system of brick and iron beneath the balconies. Mosaic patterns, parabolic pergolas, handcrafted planters, and original Nolla tilework were also reassembled with the help of skilled artisans, bringing back texture, rhythm, and intention. ‘When we discovered the original colors, we couldn’t believe it, The facade as it stands is now like the photographic negative of the original by Gaudi,’ says Villanueva. ‘The discoveries we made relate in shapes, colors, and materials to the rest of Casa Batlló.’

pergola after restoration | image © Claudia Mauriño

hidden Color, craftsmanship, & structure return to Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló was designed as a private garden space for the Batlló family, and its courtyard was conceived as a place of retreat from the city’s bustle, amid tiled paths, parabolic pergolas, and handmade planters. This restoration is the first full intervention on the courtyard and back facade since its completion, recovering lost elements while reinterpreting them through an exacting study of archival drawings and photographs, stratigraphic testing, and material research.

The interventions seem to foster a dialogue between the building’s past and present through a particular focus on materiality. Over 85,000 pieces of Nolla mosaic, originally laid at the start of the nineteenth century in the courtyard, have been restored or replicated by hand, using enhanced materials to ensure durability outdoors. The trencadís mosaics, Antoni Gaudí’s signature patchwork of ceramics and glass, were largely preserved in situ where possible, or carefully reproduced using 3D scans and high-resolution archival imagery, keeping their original patterns intact.

facade after restoration | image © Claudia Mauriño

Ironwork, including railings and pergola structures, has been restored by Enric Pla Montferrer’s workshop in Alpens. Where previous repairs had introduced welds, the team reinstated Gaudí’s original bolted modular system that was discovered thanks to original construction markings found on site. During the restoration, the team found that even the hidden structure supporting the balconies revealed surprises, such as a spiraling system of brick and reinforced vaults, radical for its time, and undocumented until this recent intervention.

Wooden elements, from the original muntins to balcony doors, were restored or recreated by heritage carpenter Josep Bartolí. Crucially, the original hues — long buried under decades of repainting — were uncovered through stratigraphic analysis, revealing a palette that echoes the green tones of Casa Batlló’s main facade. The stucco too revealed a dramatic shift from a bold black that had faded to a warm cream, reshaping how the entire rear facade is perceived in contrast to the theatrical flourish the building is otherwise celebrated for.

courtyard after restoration | image © Claudia Mauriño

the landmark celebrates 20 years as UNESCO heritage site

For the restoration team, the project forms part of a broader five-year initiative to reframe Casa Batlló as a living cultural space. Now marking its 20th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the building is celebrated as an architectural landmark — a pivotal work within Gaudí’s built legacy — as well as an evolving site of public engagement. This approach stretches the impact of conservation beyond historical fidelity, and considers it in the context of public access, education, and craft.

To realize this vision, the team brought together a multidisciplinary group of artisans including ceramicists, carpenters, ironworkers, and glaziers, who worked collaboratively to recover Gaudí’s original materials and techniques. Their work is being documented and shared through a short film and accompanying on-site exhibitions, allowing visitors to understand the process and labor behind the final restoration. These efforts speak to a broader goal to make the house more accessible and legible, inviting the public into Gaudí’s world by illuminating the layers of experimentation, technique, and creative labor that continue to define it more than a century on.

ironwork after restoration | image © Pere Vives

trencadís after restoration | image © Casa Batlló

mosaic restoration process | image © Casa Batlló

mosaic restoration process | image © Casa Batlló

trencadís restoration process | image © Casa Batlló

ironwork restoration process | image © Óscar Rodbag

trencadís restoration process | image © Casa Batlló

project info:

name: Casa Batlló restoration | @casabatllo

location: Barcelona, Spain

lead restoration architect: Xavier Villanueva

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In the heart of Barcelona, where the city’s historical fabric meets the innovation-driven 22@ district, architecture firm Cierto Estudio brings a radical vision for collective housing to life with The Room Community, part of the larger Illa Glòries redevelopment. As Building A within a four-block ensemble designed by multiple architectural teams, the dwelling introduces a new model for modular, inclusive living. Comprising 51 units surrounding generous common areas, the design supports adaptable living, social equity, and sustainable practices. ‘We are incredibly proud of the Illa Glòries project. It represents a new model for urban living, one that prioritizes community, sustainability, and the well-being of its residents,’ says Cierto Estudio. 

What sets The Room Community apart is its full-spectrum approach to care, both social and environmental. From its cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure and passive climate strategies to its robust green infrastructure, with more than 60% of the plot being landscaped, the building meets NZEB standards while mitigating the urban heat island effect. At the social level, the project is conceived from a gender perspective, with strategies that support caregiving, safety, and shared responsibility. Wide, south-facing communal walkways double as balconies and connect homes to a rooftop garden, a shaded climate refuge and social platform that strengthens neighborly ties.

images © Jose Hevia, unless stated otherwise

dismantling the nuclear family through open, fluid typologies

Winning an international competition in 2017, Cierto Estudio, a practice founded by six women architects, proposed a housing typology that dismantles conventional domestic hierarchies. Their design challenges the nuclear-family norm, offering homes that are neutral in function yet rich in possibility. The layouts are fluid, with rooms of equal size and value, encouraging occupants to define how they live. Kitchens are no longer hidden or confined to traditional gender roles; instead, they are reimagined as open, social areas, visible from the entrance and integral to daily life. Sightlines stretch diagonally across apartments, while intersections between spaces create physical and visual continuity, allowing autonomy and collectivity to coexist.

Cierto Estudio unveils collective housing project The Room Community

The Room Community rethinks visibility as tool for spatial justice

The name of the project, The Room Community, hints at its spatial philosophy, centered on a modular system of square rooms, rotated and interconnected to create typologies without hierarchies. The central junction in the floor plan serves as a main organizing element, supporting adaptable configurations for diverse and evolving household structures. With no room dominating and no single function being fixed, the idea of home is elastic, evolving with the people who inhabit it.

Rather than isolating individual units, the building opens them to shared courtyards and balconies in a contemporary reinterpretation of the corrala typology, a traditional Spanish housing model characterized by multi-story buildings with dwellings facing inward toward a common courtyard or gallery. These communal spaces make way for spontaneous interaction and collective oversight, aiming to reduce gender-based violence by increasing visibility and mutual vigilance. 

designed as Building A within a four-block ensemble led by multiple architectural teams

what public housing can be when design leads

Commissioned by the Institut Municipal de l’Habitatge i Rehabilitació de Barcelona (IMHAB), the development represents a forward-thinking approach to public housing in a city facing growing affordability challenges. In a moment when housing is increasingly commodified and standardized, Illa Glòries signals what can be achieved when public institutions back thoughtful, community-oriented design. The collaboration between teams, including Cierto Estudio, Bayona-Valero, Cantallops-Vivente, Haz Arquitectura, and others, creates an urban block that is diverse and coherent at the same time. Alongside homes, ground-floor commercial spaces and pedestrian connections make the neighborhood more vibrant, knitting the new development into the dynamic rhythm of Barcelona. 

comprising 51 units surrounding generous common areas

the design supports adaptable living, social equity, and sustainable practices

south-facing communal walkways double as balconies and connect homes to a rooftop garden | image © Marta Vidal

the central junction in the floor plan serves as a main organizing element | image © Marta Vidal

a contemporary reinterpretation of the corrala typology | image © Marta Vidal

the name of the project, The Room Community, hints at its spatial philosophy

a modular system of square rooms, rotated and interconnected | image © Marta Vidal

no room dominates, and no single function is fixed | image © Marta Vidal

kitchens are no longer tucked away or gendered spaces | image © Marta Vidal

the layouts are fluid, with rooms of equal size | image © Marta Vidal

occupants define how they live

project info:

name: The Room Community – Illa Glòries

architects: Cierto Estudio | @ciertoestudio 
location: Plaça de las Glòries, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Barcelona, Spain

site area: 5,000 square meters
total built area: 35,000 square meters

design team: Marta Benedicto, Ivet Gasol, Carlota de Gispert, Anna Llonch, Lucia Millet, Clara Vidal with Mariana Gomes

collaborator: Franc Llonch
client: Institut Municipal de l’Habitatge i Rehabilitació de Barcelona (IMHAB)
construction company: SACYR
wood structure assembly: Velima
CLT supplier: Xilonor
landscape architects: Beatriz Borque + Miquel Mariné
structural engineering: Bernuz-Fernández Arquitectes S.L.P.
MEP engineering: Eletresjota Tecnics Associats S.L.P
environmental consultancy: Societat Orgànica +10 SCCL
acoustic consultancy: Àurea Acústica S.L.
construction management: Ángel Gil
photographers: José Hevia, Marta Vidal | @_martavidal

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With Barcelona named World Capital of Architecture for 2026, the city soon transforms into a living laboratory of design, hosting a ten-month programme of public installations, exhibitions, debates, and collaborative projects that explores how architecture shapes and responds to contemporary urban life. Anchored within this dynamic is the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), whose academic programmes have long prepared students to operate precisely in these experimental, city-scale contexts.

For over two decades, the school has been embedded in the city’s fabric as a site for testing architecture’s future, intersecting with technology, ecology, and culture. Its campus extends beyond the classroom, into urban spaces, fabrication labs, and forest sites, offering students a chance to explore design as something both applied and speculative, built and debated.

IAAC invites future architects to join its master’s programmes in Barcelona | all images courtesy of IAAC

IAAC BRIDGES EDUCATION & RESEARCH THROUGH REAL-WORLD Projects

IAAC is structured into five key research labs that operate at the edge of architecture and allied disciplines. These labs bring together designers, engineers, scientists, technologists, and makers in collaborative projects that respond to today’s most urgent challenges, ranging from climate adaptation to advanced construction. In partnership with institutions like MIT, CITA, Sci-Arc, and the Barcelona City Council, the institute explores how architecture can evolve through shared knowledge and cross-sector innovation. Learning happens by doing — students engage with real-world conditions and hands-on experimentation, from dense urban sites to remote forest environments.

master students work across disciplines to rethink the future of the built environment

MASTER PROGRAMMES OPEN PATHWAYS TO BARCELONA’S DESIGN FUTURE

As Barcelona prepares to host a city-wide conversation around the future of architecture, IAAC students will be working from within that dialogue, contributing to civic collaborations, independent experiments, and site-specific prototypes. The school’s master programmes span a wide range of disciplines, from advanced urbanism, ecological construction, and computational design, to emergent futures, robotics, and artificial intelligence. These diverse pathways share a commitment to reshaping the built environment through technological literacy and hands-on research that address the challenges of our time and the complexity of real environments.

design education unfolds through a long process of making and testing

To support access to these programmes, IAAC offers a limited number of competitive scholarships in the form of partial tuition waivers. Awarded based on merit and financial need, these range from 30–50% and are available to applicants who apply within the admissions deadlines. The next intake begins in October 2025. Final applications, including scholarship requests, are due by August 9th.

Become part of IAAC’s master programmes and engage directly with Barcelona’s World Capital of Architecture 2026 initiatives.

as World Capital of Architecture, Barcelona becomes a dynamic backdrop for architectural research and prototyping

the city’s public spaces become active learning sites

students prototype speculative futures within Barcelona’s evolving urban fabric

IAAC’s labs foster cross-sector innovation at the intersection of design and technology

proposals developed at IAAC contribute to Barcelona’s 2026 architecture agenda

project info:

institution: Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) | @iaacbcn
master programmes: Master in Advanced Architecture, Master in Design for Emergent Futures, Master in Advanced Urban Planning & Data Analytics, Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings & Biocities, Master in Robotics and Advanced Construction, Master in AI for Architecture & the Built Environment, Master in Advanced Computation for Architecture & Design

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Load Gallery, located in Barcelona, is a space for the exhibition of digital and hybrid artworks, utilizing advanced audiovisual systems to support varied formats of artistic expression. Established by tech entrepreneur Alex Simorré, also the founder of Artbox, the gallery draws on his experience in custom LED technology and large-format display systems, including Europe’s first curved cinema screen. Artbox’s technical capabilities form the foundation of Load’s infrastructure, enabling tailored digital installations that align with artists’ spatial and visual intentions.

The gallery features five panoramic LED screens positioned along the street-facing facade, ensuring continuous visibility. Inside, the Round Room serves as a dedicated immersive environment with four curved screens arranged in a circular layout. Inspired by organic geometries, the room is optimized for 360-degree digital content. Both the visual and acoustic components of the gallery are engineered for consistency across a wide range of digital media formats.

exterior view showing Load Gallery’s five panoramic LED screens | all images courtesy of Load Gallery and Alex Simorré

Load Gallery Integrates Display Systems into Artistic Experience

Exhibitions at Load Gallery explore how technical display systems shape audience engagement. ‘Neo Botanica’ (Group Exhibition, Feb–Mar 2025) used seamless screen transitions to present AI-generated flora in a continuous visual cycle, supporting a fluid progression between works by multiple artists. The technical setup maintained image clarity and uniform motion throughout. In ‘Portals’ by Mareo Rodriguez (Oct–Dec 2024), animated visuals simulated geological formations across the LED surfaces, with a central screen-based structure reinforcing the exhibition’s spatial composition. The Round Room’s curved format reinforced visual immersion by surrounding viewers with synchronized motion graphics. Luna Ikuta’s ‘Rebirth’ (May–Jun 2024) employed both sculptural and projected elements, supported by Load’s integrated lighting and projection systems. Physical and digital components coexisted within the same viewing zone, allowing for cross-medium interactions and spatial continuity. ‘Species’ by Six N. Five (Feb–Mar 2024) featured a short-form digital video presented at cinematic resolution. The gallery’s sound and display systems created a synchronized environment in which audio and video were spatially aligned. The installation emphasized technical accuracy in playback and presentation, contributing to perceptual depth and clarity.

Across all exhibitions, Load Gallery prioritizes material performance and system integration. Custom software supports adaptive content deployment, and the gallery’s infrastructure is designed for scalability, enabling future configurations without major structural changes. By integrating architectural design with digital display systems, Load facilitates a consistently high level of production quality in contemporary digital art exhibitions.

street-facing facade designed for continuous digital display visibility

Load’s custom audiovisual setup supports digital and hybrid artworks

the Round Room’s curved LED screens create a 360-degree immersive space

interior view highlighting the circular layout of the Round Room

advanced acoustic engineering ensures consistency across exhibitions

lighting and digital systems in Rebirth blur boundaries between mediums

gallery design inspired by organic geometries for optimized projection

seamless screen transitions used to animate AI-generated flora

Load’s screen configurations evolve to meet varying artistic intentions

display surfaces and audio systems calibrated for perceptual coherence

gallery infrastructure supports large-format display and adaptive content

physical space and software integration allow for modular installation setups

Load Gallery integrates architectural and digital systems into a unified exhibition platform

project info:

name: Load gallery | @load.gallery
founder and CEO: Alex Simorré

location: Load gallery, Carrer Llull 134, Barcelona, Spain

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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GdSB Arquitectes and Marvel Architects emerge as winners of the international design competition for Les Tres Xemeneies (The Three Chimneys). This adaptive reuse project will transform Barcelona’s iconic power plant in Sant Adrià de Besòs into Catalunya Media City. The proposal envisions a digital and media hub while preserving the three towering chimneys, symbols of the industrial past of the city, through a series of strategic architectural interventions that weave the structure into the urban fabric. Selected from 26 entrants in a two-stage competition, the winning design sets the stage for a creative ecosystem.

public space over plateau building looking to the logistics street | all images by Studio kmh, unless stated otherwise

the winning proposal respects the monumental structure’s past

Originally built in the 1970s as part of a thermal power plant, Les Tres Xemeneies ceased operations in 2011, leaving behind a monumental structure between Barcelona and Badalona. The Barcelona-based GdSB Arquitectes and Marvel Architects’ winning scheme respects the historical significance of the site while carving out spatial connections to integrate it with its surroundings. The design introduces deliberate cuts and openings within the existing industrial shell, creating porous, adaptable spaces for media production, technology, and cultural programming. This approach ensures that the power plant retains its striking silhouette while evolving into an accessible and multifunctional landmark.

While the chimneys remain the most recognizable feature of the site, the project’s focus lies in revitalizing the turbine hall—an expansive structure originally designed with three modular sections, each corresponding to a chimney. The architects embraced this modular rhythm, extending the hall with an additional module to create a balanced, symmetrical composition. This intervention enhances the spatial potential of the building while maintaining a dialogue with its industrial origins.

sea view of the Catalunya Media City Complex and landscape | image by Filippo Bolognese Images 

construction to take shape in the coming years

With construction anticipated in the coming years, Les Tres Xemeneies stands as a testament to the potential of adaptive reuse in shaping the cities of tomorrow. Positioned as the heart of Catalunya Media City, the reimagined complex will host a vibrant mix of creative industries, technological research, and digital experiences. A central courtyard, introduced as part of the redesign, brings natural light and ventilation deep into the building, creating an atmosphere. Spatially, the project establishes a clear distinction between past and future, with the first three floors unifying the existing and new structures, while the upper levels subtly separate to highlight the contrast between heritage and contemporary interventions. By expanding the volume without exceeding the original height, the design achieves a sense of equilibrium—bridging the site’s industrial legacy with its role in the digital age.

lobby of the new building addition to the south

north facade of the existing building with balcony towards El Maresme

Interior courtyard for social interaction | image by Filippo Bolognese Images

Experience Hall during setup for an event | image by Filippo Bolognese Images  

Event in the Experience Hall | image by Filippo Bolognese Images  

south digital facade of the new building addition to the south | image by Filippo Bolognese Images  

project info:

name: Les Tres Xemeneies renovation 

architects: GdSB Arquitectes | @gdsb_arquitectes, Marvel Architects | @marvel_is_design

location: Barcelona, Spain

renders: Filippo Bolognese Images | @filippobolognese.images, Studio kmh | @studiokmh

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GRAT Studio reconstructs Casa Biaix along the Aubareda Path in Barcelona, integrating traditional Catalan architectural elements with contemporary design. Positioned on a small hill within a pine forest and an olive grove, the structure is in close proximity to one of the city’s oldest oak trees. The design preserves the historical exterior shape of the farmhouse while introducing a new formal and material language inside. It frames views of the regenerating landscape, partially transformed by a recent wildfire. An austere materiality of lime mortar is applied throughout the project, reintroducing a material traditionally used in rural houses. The local limestone, characteristic of the interiors in Catalonia, defines the color palette of the project.

all images by Simone Marcolin

GRAT Studio utilizes traditional lime mortar and local limestone

GRAT Studio’s architectural team organizes the daytime program on the ground floor to enhance visual connections with a landscape that changes throughout the seasons. On the upper floor of Casa Biaix, the rooms are arranged along a diagonal hallway that shapes the distinctive interior geometry. That oblique form is used to optimize service spaces and accommodate an additional room for the family. The adjacent annex becomes a new living space, connected to the main house by a new spiral staircase. The rear facade opens up, making the house completely accessible and exposed to the elements.

Casa Biaix integrates traditional Catalan elements with contemporary design

lime mortar, traditionally used in rural houses, defines the materiality

a new formal and material language is introduced within the interior

a new annex functions as an extension of the main living space

a newly designed spiral staircase connects the annex to the house

the metallic white staircase subtly contrasts the interior’s rustic textures

a diagonal hallway on the upper floor organizes the interior layout

large openings establish strong visual connections with the natural surroundings

interior spaces balance tradition and modern functionality

the project’s color palette is influenced by Catalonia’s characteristic limestone

GRAT Studio emphasizes material continuity with local construction techniques

the oblique geometry optimizes service spaces and incorporates an extra room

Casa Biaix harmonizes past and present through thoughtful design choices

positioned on a hill, the house is surrounded by a pine forest and an olive grove

project info:

name: Casa Biaix
architect: GRAT Studio | @grat.works

location: Aubareda Path, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

lead architect: Guillem Elvira

photographer: Simone Marcolin | @simoneemarcolin

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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The Prefab House Changeover is a small red dwelling perched on a cluster of shotcrete pillars in the woodlands of Barcelona. Spanish studio TEST was presented with the challenge to revitalize a deteriorating wooden house, originally built on a nine-pillar foundation, that had been left to rot in the mountains. Rather than demolishing the structure entirely, the Spanish studio proposed three potential replacement strategies to the new owners, ultimately selecting a modular, prefabricated system to rest atop the existing foundations, prioritizing flexible living inside and out.

all images by Gregori Civera

test studio ensures adaptability for residents and the structure

Compact and structurally efficient, the new house spans 60 square meters and consists of eight balloon-framed modules, each measuring 3x3x3 meters. The units are stacked on reinforced sprayed concrete pillars that reduce impact on the terrain and are secured with mechanical fasteners that allow for ease of assembly and potential future modifications. The team at TEST has also clad the modules in textured wood, allowing the house to integrate with the surrounding landscape despite its bold red envelop.

Internally, the layout and finish maintain a minimalist aesthetic with a slight industrial feel. In its design, it embraces flexibility over rigid programming, avoiding fixed elements to ensure the structure can adapt to different spatial needs and configurations over time. The architects have also integrated an outer wooden shell which encases the glazing, allowing the Prefab House to open almost entirely up to its surroundings, with views of the foliage engulfing residents from all sides, or closed up entirely for an intimate retreat.

TEST completes Prefab House Changeover

a small red dwelling perched on a cluster of pillars

the facade opens up to take in views of the surrounding woodlands

rather than demolishing the structure entirely, the studio proposed three potential replacement strategies

a bold red hue wraps the facade and the interiors

a modular system for adaptability is employed

the house’s modules are clad in textured wood

resting atop the existing nine-pillar foundation

a shotcrete finish

project info: 

name: Prefab House Changeover

architect: TEST | @test.bcn

location: Barcelona, Spain

photographer: Gregori Civera | @gregori_civera

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