Experimental

Between two consolidated plots, a compact five-storey building was constructed with a mixed-use programme: a café and shop at street level, a restaurant on the floor above, a residential level, and a set-back penthouse at the top. The structure is in reinforced concrete, with solid slabs and strategically placed structural walls that organise the interior without excessive compartmentalisation. At the centre, a linear spiral staircase runs vertically through all floors, ensuring circulation and natural ventilation.

Although the project defined rigorous solutions, execution on site required successive adaptations. The available labour force could not meet the precision of several construction details, leading to practical reformulations — without compromising the structural and spatial logic.

The main façade, made of glass with aluminium framing, stands out in a street context largely composed of rendered masonry. Its full transparency highlights the public uses of the ground floor and reveals the building’s internal organisation.

On the roof, the penthouse appears as a light, set-back volume with a metallic finish and generous openings. Set back from the façade line, it allows for outdoor terraces and reduces the visual impact of the uppermost floor — almost like a temporary structure placed atop the building.