The architecture studios Jaime Prous Architects and Seguí Arquitectura have carried out the renovation of the interior courtyard of one of Francesc Mitjans' largest projects, the Illa Europa, located between the Gracia and Baix Guinardó neighbourhoods in Barcelona.

The project is being developed in the gardens of the interior of the island, in the part occupied by the car park roof. The primary objective was to preserve Mitjans' aesthetics and the essence of his architecture, but adapting the space to current needs.

Jaime Prous Architects and Seguí Arquitectura have carried out an invisible intervention that respects the architect's original architecture by using materials with similar tones to the original ones. White-washed steel is used for the furniture and the new elements, as well as other materials such as hand-made red fired ceramics or terrazzo.

The project resolves the technical problems related to structural safety and watertightness, as well as correcting light pollution to promote the rest of the neighbours. The old tank is recovered to transform it into a cistern to store rainwater. The vegetation system is modified, planting native species that do not require a high level of water maintenance.
 Jardins Europa by Jaime Prous Architects + Seguí Arquitectura. Photograph by Adrià Goula.

Project description by Jaime Prous Architects, Seguí Arquitectura

In 1970, Francesc Mitjans signed one of the largest projects of his career: the Illa Europa. Between the Gracia and Baix Guinardó neighbourhoods, a residential complex was built with five hundred and nine apartments, twenty-two premises, underground parking and an interior courtyard used as a garden. The project was not as visible or well-known as other large urban developments in Barcelona, ​​but it represents one of the first interventions in the city that proposed a model of urban coexistence in a closed environment, oriented towards social and residential well-being.

The project is developed inside the island, in the gardens. Mitjans' original concept is sober due to the predominance of white, impressive due to the cancellation of the horizon, coherent with the aesthetics and without fuss, a frank and honest architecture.

Jardins Europa por Jaime Prous Architects + Seguí Arquitectura. Fotografía por Adrià Goula.
Jardins Europa por Jaime Prous Architects + Seguí Arquitectura. Fotografía por Adrià Goula.

The new intervention is located in the garden part occupied by the car park roof. The aim is to preserve Mitjans' aesthetics but update it to current needs. All technical deficiencies in terms of watertightness and structural safety are corrected. All architectural barriers are removed, any user can go to any point without needing help. The vegetation system is improved with native vegetation, with few water needs. An old tank is recovered and transformed into a cistern that allows rainwater to be stored. Light pollution is corrected to promote the rest of the neighbors.

An "invisible" intervention is carried out to respect the author's architecture. The palette of final materials used is the same as those of the original author: red and handmade fired ceramics, terrazzo and the rest of the furniture and new elements in white lacquered steel.

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Collaborators
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Quantity Surveyor.- Beatriz Puerta.
Engineering.- PACI Global.

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Contractor
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Xavier Alsina SA.

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Location
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Barcelona, Spain.

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Photography
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Jaime Prous Architects. Architecture practice founded by Jaime Prous in 2015 based in Barcelona, ​​Spain. Jaime Prous Architects has developed a diverse amount of works including commercial, residential, and facilities projects, both small and large scale. The studio combines the practice of private commissioned architecture with the practice of public works through competitions.
 
Jaime Prous. Architect since 2006 by the Technical School of Architecture of Barcelona. He began his career in the Barcelona office of Francisco and Damián Ribas. Until today he has carried out outstanding works from residential to sports equipment. He has always combined the practice of the project with research and teaching. He is currently a professor of Technology at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura Vallés. Passionate about traveling, he impregnates his works with foreign influences, embodying his own personality.
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Seguí Arquitectura, SLP is an architecture studio founded by Víctor Seguí in 1973. Marc Seguí joined in 2000.

The studio brings together professionals and collaborators from different disciplines with the aim of developing Architecture, Urbanism and Interior Design Projects and the subsequent implementation of the work.

Víctor Seguí Santana, architect from the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Barcelona (1973). In 1977 he graduated in Sociology from the Higher School of Sociology of the Barcelona Provincial Council and later in 1988 he obtained his doctorate in Architecture.

Since 1976 he has combined his professional work with the teaching of Architecture, starting at the Escola Oficial d’Arts Aplicades y Oficis Artístics “LLOTJA” in Barcelona in the specialty of interior design. Since 1980 he has been a member of the teaching staff of the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Vallés, where he is currently the director.

Marc Seguí Pié, architect from the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Barcelona (1999). During the period 2000-2007 he has completed postgraduate studies related to housing rehabilitation, real estate projects and economic viability analysis. At the same time, he completed his training in the field of restoration, rehabilitation and repair of buildings, as well as in the management of the architectural studio.

Since 2009 he has been an associate professor at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona. Currently he is also Co-academic Director and professor of the Master of Rehabilitation of the Collegi d’Aparelladors, Arquitectes Tècnics i Enginyers d’Edificació de Barcelona.

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Published on: February 5, 2025
Cite: "The new gardens of the Illa Europa building. Jardins Europa by Jaime Prous Architects + Seguí Arquitectura" METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/new-gardens-illa-europa-building-jardins-europa-jaime-prous-architects-segui-arquitectura> ISSN 1139-6415
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