040 / 2010

The proposal is to configure a new urban space, a plaza, where the convent meeting area was formerly located, so as to maximise from there the built up perimeter, and focussing the rooms on the countryside.

AWARDS:

FINALIST architecture competition. Spain, 2010

EXHIBITED:

Convention Hall. Mérida. (Spain, 2010)

CREDITS:

PHASE: national competition, 2010

SITE: Herrera del Duque, Badajoz. Spain

CLIENT: Consejería de Cultura y Turismo

GROSS FLOOR AREA: 3.874m2

BUDGET: 6.820.100 euros

TEAM:

ARCHITECTS: Ana Ábalos, Pablo Llopis

The site is situated in the border of the urban area, where the city turns into countryside. The project for the hostel should not diverge from this situation and should respect this duality, transfering guests from a public urban environment to a natural and calm scenario, where they can enjoy rest and intimacy, immersed in the tranquillity of the surrounding countryside.
The proposal is to configure a new urban space, a plaza, where the convent meeting area was formerly located, so as to maximise from there the built up perimeter, focussing on the countryside, and to blend its profile in to the brittle silhouette of the urban area, reducing the visual impact of the whole complex as seen from a far view.
On the lower floor the public meeting spaces open on to the new plaza and are closed in by the servant areas. On the upper floor, between the church and the castle grounds, a continuous space is proposed, without long corridors of rooms, a quiet setting to be enjoyed by the clients that integrates small rooms enclosed by the accommodation areas.