The object of the project is the construction of a new health Centre in Granollers, and at the same time take advantage of the layout of an architecture published to make city in a par-cel.la that is a boundary between two well differentiated urban plots. The proposal is developed vertically, stacing the uses for plants, so that in each level there is a different service, and achieving a clear and easily understandable organization for users. The distribution of the different services in vertical is done according to the volume of users, and facilitates to cut the volume of the building as the height of the building increases. This allows the transition from one urban fabric to another, while reducing the vertical movement of users, encouraging a more fluid use of the centre.
Context & Integration// Situated between party walls with facades facing two distinctly different streets, the building acts as a volumetric link between the existing urban fabrics. The project is articulated around a pedestrian passageway that connects both streets and houses the main entrances, successfully generating a new public urban space. Concurrently, a new plaza is carved out on Marià Sans Street to open up the dense fabric of the historic center while safeguarding privacy between the healthcare facility and the neighboring residential buildings.
Layout & Organization// The building massing adapts to its context, rising to G+4 on Girona Street and G+2 on Marià Sans Street. The functional program places the emergency department on the ground floor and the surgical block on the first floor. On the upper levels, which house consultation rooms and offices, a generous central courtyard serves as the spatial organizer: it structures internal circulation while flooding the waiting areas with optimal natural light and ventilation.
Singularity & Character// Despite its prominent location, the new Granollers Health Center features only two exposed facades on opposing streets. To address this condition, a unique envelope solution was developed using a system of metallic tubes set in varying orientations. This design choice not only introduces texture and visual dynamism to the facade but also functions as an efficient solar protection screen.
Sustainability Criteria// The architectural design addresses sustainability from a holistic perspective. Most notable is the execution of both facades via a double-skin system—a passive solution that provides high thermal performance, optimizes solar control, and significantly reduces the building’s overall energy consumption.
