The project consists in refurbishing and adapting the nineteenth century Ca Ses Monges convent into an elderly centre, a library, and a youth centre. The proposal strives to avoid new constructions and to re-use the existing building as much as possible. The required new additions integrate with the original architecture, maintaining their own logic while continuing the language of the original building. One of the main challenges of the project is to improve the building’s relationship with the town. A semi-exterior porch space creates a welcoming entrance space and resolves the level differences between the street and the interior. This leads to a central circulation space that connects the building horizontally and vertically, between the different parts of the program and the large garden at the rear of the plot. This space is conceived as a single reception space that fosters interaction between different user groups. With inclusivity being one of the fundamental concerns, the design prioritises accessibility by eliminating level changes and ensuring that all users can use the building’s spaces in an
equitable way.

The required functions are located within the original building, taking into account the characteristics of the existing spaces and their fragmented nature. The elderly centre is located entirely on the ground level, avoiding movement between floors. The library is distributed on the two top floors, eliminating interior partitions and suspended ceilings to achieve generous spaces in terms of area and height. The space destined for the youth centre takes shape as a new pavilion in the garden, providing it with independence in relation to the rest of the program, without limiting the opportunities for of social interaction with the rest of the users. Going beyond the established program, the design is centred on the architecture itself and the creation of a series of interconnected, high-quality spaces. The proposal aims to offer a container that can be durable in the long term, capable of changing its function in the future if necessary. This would not only reduce the complexity and cost of potential future refurbishments but also contribute to the reduction of the CO2 emissions and minimising the need for construction and demolition. In this way, a functional, durable, and permanent container will always be the most sustainable.