Espinosa Estudios
Espinosa arose from the desire to have a space where things could happen. In this search, a shed appeared, hidden in La Paternal, which was formerly a warehouse, with a series of constructions inside: a house at the front converted into offices, a sausage house in the center, a large industrial mezzanine, a concrete structure without much sense. It was a great sum of moments and needs patched together, all under a large sheet metal roof.
Something of that unexpected succession of spaces that the place originally had still exists in the project: an interior street that changes character sews different spaces together. This side street, which runs from the pavement to the back, is compressed, becomes double height, becomes a semi-covered space, and is a place in itself. Can it function as a circulation and at the same time as a space for permanence, exhibition, events?
All workspaces are linked to this street, allowing and encouraging interaction, crossover and collaboration. The seven spaces, with different sizes and spatial qualities, are designed to host activities related to art and design. A gallery on the first floor generates a common outdoor space and functions as the lung of the project. This perforation in the floor and a series of openings in the roof provide the entire complex with natural light throughout the day. The construction of Espinosa was a process of experimentation, of testing on site, of searching for materials.
There is a balance between the old-existing-murario, and the new: lightweight – industrialized space closures/dividers. In Espinosa there are an air of simplicity, rationality and truth of materials. There is no ornaments. It's like a blank sheet for things to happen.
