Old Cement Factory Turned Into a Home. Splendid Residence of an Architect Outside Barcelona
When the architect Ricardo Bofill stumbled upon a dilapidated cement factory outside Barcelona in 1973, he immediately saw a world of possibilities. He bought it, demolished and restored, and almost 45 years later this how an old cement factory turned into a home looks like.
The factory, located just outside this tourist magnet city, was a WWI-era pollution machine that had closed down, and came with many repairs to be done. Ricardo Bofill and his team purchased it and, after years of partial deconstruction, he proceeded to lace the exterior of the property with vegetation and furnish the interior as a modern living and work space. He now enjoys this spectacular, unique residence.
But La fábrica is a work in progress to this day, to which Bofill likens his own life, as his visions for the future continue to change shape. The industrial chimneys that once filled the air with smoke now overflow with lush greenery, a fine example of the beautiful transformations that result from creative thinking.
Old cement factory turned into a home. Unique inside out
Each room is designed with its own special purpose, and no 2 look quite alike.
The kitchen-dining room located in the ground floor is the meeting point for the family.
A variety of indoor and outdoor relaxation spots can be found throughout the property.
Old cement factory turned into a home. Work and living in a whole
Work space is also a crucial component here, as Bofill’s team uses part of the residence as a studio.
According to the architect, “life goes on here in a continuous sequence, with very little difference between work and leisure”.
“I have the impression of living… in a closed universe which protects me from the outside and everyday life”, Bofill writes.
The exterior is mostly covered by grass, but also eucalyptus, palm, and olive trees. This gives the building a “mysterious aspect of romantic ruin that makes it unique and unrepeatable”.
Credits: boredpanda.com
