Can Ricart - Weaving the Factory Back into the Community
A disused factory area of Can Ricart in Barcelona creates an ideal backdrop for this proposed new cultural hub for Barcelona. It is proposed to incorporate the community into the area whilst allowing for provisions for artists, theatrical productions, start-up businesses and social activities. The areas are provided through a series of interventions woven into the existing factory buildings; thus retaining the former and enhancing the future. The site strategy involving the bigger picture of location of activities has been inspired by the atmosphere felt whilst walking through the old town in Barcelona. Therefore a series of thresholds leading into different areas is proposed. This is conclusively reflecting the of the old town into this area, contrasting the old with new; bring tourists to the area as well as locals. The interaction of new and old buildings has derived from the concept of threading through the building in such a way of a weaving machine. The factories history comprises of a textile factory and has informed my design. this has also been reflected in the site and section plans with routes formed by a series of ‘threads’ constructed of copper set in the paving, building edges, tables etc. These threads link the hub to the surrounding area, leading from the site boundaries to the internal hub being the central social area including, cafe, bakery, bar and outdoor performance stage/cinema. The intervention allows for integration rather than separation, threading the community into to this up and coming hub.