Rehabilitation of the City Walls of Logroño by Pesquera Ulargui Arquitectos

Rose Etherington | 30 November 2010 6 comments

Madrid studio Pesquera Ulargui Arquitectos have added two exhibition pavilions to the city walls of Logroño in Spain.

Rehabilitation of the City Walls of Logroño by Pesquera Ulargui Arquitectos

The first has a stone exterior and faceted wooden interior used as an exhibition space.

The second is a star-shaped addition clad in lead and inserted in a circular tower where the original walls form a corner.

Photographs are by Pedro Pegenaute unless stated otherwise.

The information that follows is from Pesquera Ulargui Arquitectos:

Rehabilitation of the city walls of Logroño.

Built in the begining of the XVI century, this fragment of wall is Logroño’s most remarcable defensive construction. Its quality and its detailed ornaments bring to the present the wealthiest period of Logroño’s history.

Above photograph is by Eduardo Sánchez

We have developed two little interventions trying to habilitate this forgotten symbolic space into two exhibition galleries. These interventions have been realised in two phases.

Above photograph is by Eduardo Sánchez

First of all, the monument has been restored following the usual process: preliminary archaeological studies, repair of existing diseases and rebuild of ruined parts.

On the other hand, as a consequence of scientific studies and geometry, showrooms have been understood as independent prefabricated buildings introduced at the very last moment.

Above photograph is by Eduardo Sánchez

The first pavilion retrieves the original shape of the city walls as a light double leaf wall building. It is meant to be a light stone construction at the same time similar and different from the existing. Outwards is adjusted to the urban setting; inwards is a single asymmetric wooden space with exhibitions on floor, roof and walls.

Above photograph is by Eduardo Sánchez

The second one is a little lead clad pavilion inserted inside the circular tower in the corner. Designed as a star shape it provides small courtyards to bring light into the showroom and show the defensive walls as part of the exhibition. Different materials in the pavilions explain different characters: stone vs. lead; heaviness vs. lightness.

Based on a correct approach and strategy, the project has allowed later extensions without damage to the main idea. The untreated timber used outside and the finish given to the moat express their tectonic nature as assembled elements.

This way to build the new elements pursues the concept of “reversible intervention”, as the materials used outside protect but do not change the former, allowing any potential further alteration to grasp new opportunities.

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REHABILITATION OF THE CITY WALLS OF LOGROÑO.
LOGROÑO (SPAIN)

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LOCATION
C/ Once de Junio.
Logroño. Spain

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PROJECT DATES
FIRST PHASE:
PROJECT: MAY 2006
WORKS: SEPTEMBER 2006 – FEBRUARY 2007

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SECOND PHASE:
PROJECT: FEBRERO 2009
WORKS: JULY 2009 – MAY 2010

ARCHITECTS: Jesús Ulargui Agurruza (2/1/1965) Eduardo Pesquera González

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COLLABORATORS: Juan Enrique Álvarez Cabezuelo (architect) Manuel Cifuentes Antonio (architect) Natalia Domínguez Santana (architect) Cristina Gómez Abecia (architect) Alfonso Peralta Muñoz (architect) Jorge Sánchez Limón (architect) Judith Sastre Arce (architect) Jose Antonio Vilches Menéndez (surveyor) Juan de la Torre (architect; structural) Mario Abajo (engineering)