Should the Bohemian hotel be a vertical tower of 100 meter high? Or 100 meters long? Given the nature of the site, located in the gothic area, Comac proposed a horizontal design in the Plaza del Angels in front of the MACBA. Barret 001 is based on two fundamental principles: Firstly, to offer quality of life, enjoying the richness of the site by creating a public space and a sky floor over the Gothic area. The second objective is to create a shadow on the Plaza del Angels known for its burning heat. More images and architects’ description after the break.
By creating a horizontal slope, each room of the Bohemian hotel has a view of the city. The Main floor is organized as one space where there can be frequent social gatherings. Circulations and Lounge areas are orientated around several patios, generating common inside spaces. Nowadays, vertical towers are organized on separate floors, which avoid mixed spaces and a meeting point. Barret001 is a real place of exchange, all the hotel facilities are on the same floor so that everyone can meet new friends in each of the spaces, sharing common uses, just like the gothic street of Barcelona is noisy, cosy and colorful.
By connecting the MACBA plaza to the Bohemian Hotel, this inclination creates a public space in the shadow of the Catalan sun. The public program such as bars and shops are following the gradient by their weight to carry the cantilever created by Barret 001. Barret 001 reaches 40 meters high and is integrated in the city center landscape to offer a large number of viewing areas on Barcelona. Known for his modern art, the MACBA is orientated at the south so the main hall, which is behind a glass façade, is a heat buffer. Therefore, Barret 001 is giving a shadow to this façade in order to make a sustainable cooling system to the Richard Meier Building. As a result, the site becomes an urban garden, a fresh space protected from traffic and noise.
Architects: Comac Location: Barcelona, Spain Team: Francois Jaubert, Bastien Beguier, Julien Eveille Status: International Competition
