Potxonea Eraikina
Townhall´s culture department – offices Meeting point for cultural groups of the town – workshops
The Potxoenea is the last of a block that provides the backbone to the downtown, being a remarkable building with a historical background. The adjoining buildings separate two large public spaces: the Dema Square (Usurbil´s main square) and Askatasuna Square, more recently built.
The diference between these two squares is reflected in the buildings facades, resulting in two totally antagonistic styles. The one overlooking Dema Square is composed of load-bearing walls, openings of small size and ashlar stone finishes, while the front facing the Askatasuna square shows more modest facades consisting of timber trusses with larger openings. Although both squares are connected by a permeable ground floor, the dialogue between the two is nonexistent with all main entrances and best finishes concentrated on the side facing Dema square.
Within this context, the Potxoenea building was the last in Irazu Street before reaching the church and was separated from the adjoining building by a narrow 1.7 firewall alley that was fenced and unused. This municipally owned building had a very small plan (80 m2) and a profile of Ground floor +2, was empty and in a very poor structural state. The Downtown Protection Special Plan gave this site a basic protection level which meant keeping the facade facing Dema square.
Objectives and strategies:
In order to maximize the quality of the areas included in the program, a controlled expansion was proposed:
- The alley was occupied on the ground floor only, as the adjacent building had windows facing it on the upper floors.
- An small extension was raised to Askatasuna square, respecting de 3m separation from the adjacent building, pursuant to Civil Code and mainteining the setback scheme of the buildings that make up Irazu street so that the view from the main street left visible the corner of the building next to Potxoenea.
- Construction of a basement for more usable floor space.
- Exhausting projections permitted by the Special Plan: 30cm in 50% of the south facade. This extension was raised so that a transitional space was left between the kept facade and projection. This resort, apart from extending the usable area of the building, allowed to intervene in the facade, defining a unique space that provides a continuous reading between original and intervention.
Inside, the vertical communication elements (elevator and stairs) were placed in the north facade, thus liberating areas with better lighting and views. To reduce the floor space occupied, the staircase´s height was shortened making floors on different levels and using internal ramps in transitional spaces to connect them. The quality of the interior spaces with visual/spatial communication by making natural light reach the maximum area also expands the perception of the spaces.
The main entrance is from Askatasuna square, unique in this block. It allows to generate a more suitable space that emphasizes the entrance, while integrating an old concrete wall made to strengthen the foundation of the building next door. To mark the pre-existence and continuity of the alley, glazed closures were raised that visually unite the two squares and make the access of the building visible from both sides.
Treatment of the new skin was defined by the following factors:
Against the small holes of the remaining bearing wall, the new holes are broader, achieving more efficient natural lighting and a feeling of lightness. At the same time, and in the case of a living cultural building, it´s interesting that what is happening inside can be seen from outside. The lightness was materialized through a black stained wooden skin. Moreover, the distribution of holes not aligned vertically reinforced the weightlessness of the new volume.
The recesses of the north facade were reduced to preserve the privacy of the adjoining buildings, so Potxoenea´s roof became another facade where to open more holes and get natural light for this side of the building.
The west facade (which kept the original volume) regained its original gable roof with eaves configuration, while the new volume protruded from the previous plan absorbing the eaves under the same cover. This extension emphases the difference in treatment between the restored facade and the new one.
In the entrance area, however, the wood is left with its natural finish. This continues inside the building through out the entire length of the alley. With this simple resort, and imbeding the joinery of the door, a covered access area that stands out from the rest of openings in the facade composition is achieved.
In conclusion, by a real study of the possibilities left after the application of the laws, a multiple faceted building is created. Rich in details coming from the interaction of the old with the new.
