Nestled on the outskirts of Barcelona, a mere fifteen-minute drive from the city center, stood a marvel of architectural rebirth: La Fábrica. Home to Taller de Arquitectura (RBTA) and the Bofill family, this renowned masterpiece revealed itself as we drew near. Its imposing presence rose before us, a striking fusion of industrial ruin and organic transformation.
The first glimpse of the towering silos, now adorned with creeping ivy and punctuated by verdant trees sprouting from the concrete, left us in awe. It was a surreal sight—an industrial relic metamorphosed into a symbol of creativity and resilience, like stepping into another world hidden out of the city. A forest growing on concrete, contrasting sharply with the modern concrete forest of the city.
- Words: Fynn
- Photos: Yinjispace Paris Brummer
One could not miss the story of this place and how Ricardo Bofill encountered this abandoned cement factory in 1973. He saw something beyond its industrial decay, a vision that transformed a derelict structure into a vibrant, living space.
Imagining how Bofill approached the transformation of the factory reminded us of our childhood, cutting and shaping cardboard structures with playful creativity.
Bofill selected and cut through the old cement factory’s elements with a whimsical, yet deliberate, touch. His methodology blended joy and exploration with the refined touch of a sculptor, meticulously deciding which parts of the original structure to remove and which to preserve.
This hands-on approach allowed him to carve out new volumes while maintaining a cohesive relationship between the old and the new. The result is a dynamic and textured masterpiece, where raw, industrial remnants are harmoniously integrated into a bold, artistic vision.
From the ruins of the cement factory to the repurposed, beautifully crafted architecture, La Fábrica epitomized rebirth. When green plants climbed up the facade and the roof, we saw nature reclaiming and breathing new life into the dead concrete.
After Bofill's death in 2022, his sons Ricardo Emilio and Pablo took over his legacy. The living quarters were transformed into workspaces while maintaining its soul. This ongoing transformation of La Fábrica stands as a testament to Bofill's vision and the enduring spirit of creativity and renewal.
