Renovation of the “Apprentices” building for the Mondragón Music School by KREAN Group
17/10/2023.
[Mondragón - Arrasate] Spain
metalocus, CRISTINA RODRÍGUEZ
metalocus, CRISTINA RODRÍGUEZ
The KREAN Group architecture team has been responsible for the rehabilitation of the historic Aprendices building for the development of the activities of the Arrasate Musikal Music School and the Goikobalu Choral Association, located in the municipality of Mondragón/Arrasate, in the province of Guipúzcoa, in the northern part of Spain.
The building dates back to 1939 and has a marked architectural identity and is representative of the history of the municipality. Starting from these two premises, the project seeks to adapt the building to new uses, maintaining its essential features and its identity in the landscape, and generating new urban spaces, transforming the relationship between the building and the river.
The building dates back to 1939 and has a marked architectural identity and is representative of the history of the municipality. Starting from these two premises, the project seeks to adapt the building to new uses, maintaining its essential features and its identity in the landscape, and generating new urban spaces, transforming the relationship between the building and the river.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Site plan. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group.
Basement floor plan. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group.
Ground floor plan. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group.
First floor plan. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group.
Second floor plan. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group.
Third floor plan. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group.
Sections. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group.
Sections. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group.
Axonometry. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group.
Axonometry. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group.
Historical photo. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Courtesy of KREAN Group.
Historical photo. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Courtesy of KREAN Group.
Historical photo. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Courtesy of KREAN Group.
Historical photo. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Courtesy of KREAN Group.
Historical photo. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Courtesy of KREAN Group.
Historical photo. Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Courtesy of KREAN Group.
The main decision that KREAN Group makes for the project is to increase the height of the building by one floor to be able to accommodate all the activities proposed in the program, maintaining the volume of the original building and its perception. This new floor, the third, is set back and is built with glass as the main material, seeking contrast with the original materiality.
In this way, the third floor is related to the most distant environment, the central body with the middle environment, and the ground floor, with its access from the south façade to generate new circulations, with the most immediate environment. The auditorium is the only element that breaks into the exterior, altering the composition and materiality of the original façade.
In this way, the third floor is related to the most distant environment, the central body with the middle environment, and the ground floor, with its access from the south façade to generate new circulations, with the most immediate environment. The auditorium is the only element that breaks into the exterior, altering the composition and materiality of the original façade.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Project description by KREAN Group
The purpose of the project is to refurbish the historic building “Aprendices” for the the activities required by “Arrasate Musikal” music school and “Goikobalu” choral association. The building was originally inaugurated in 1939, and today it has a marked architectural identity and a strong representative component of the recent history of Mondragon. Based on both premises, the proposal aims to achieve the following objectives:
1. To adapt the building to the new requirements, maintaining the essential features of the original architectural project, which give it a unique identity and expressiveness.
2. To maintain this identity in the urban landscape.
3. To generate new urban spaces and dynamics, and to transform the relationship between the building and the river.
One of the main decisions taken in the proposal is to increase its height by one storey, in order to meet the total surface area required in the programme, and to preserve the rotundity of the parallelepiped and its perception from the different viewpoints.
Renovation of the “Apprentices” building by KREAN Group. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
This third floor is set back from the main façade line and is designed with glass as the main material, seeking a counterpoint to the original wall façade and taking advantage of its dynamic behaviour in relation to the light.
In this way, the top floor is related to the more distant landscape and Udalatx mountain, the central body to the urban environment, and the ground floor to the closest surroundings.
The new main access to the building is from its southern façade, with the aim of generating a new flow that will redefine and recover this part of the urban space, currently unused.
The auditorium, a prominent element in the programme, is the only piece that breaks into the exterior. It alters the composition and materiality of the original façade and contributes to the expressiveness of the new use of the building, as well as to the configuration of the outdoor plaza.
More information
Architects
KREAN Group. Lead architects.- Diego Rodriguez, Fernando de la Maza, Javier de la Fuente.
Investor
Mondragón City Council.
Dates
Competition.- 2016.
Completion.- 2023.
Completion.- 2023.
Location
Mondragón/Arrasate, Guipúzcoa, Basque Country, Spain.
Photography
Luis Anduaga, Jon Berbel, Patxi Larizgoitia. KREAN
KREAN is a Basque industrial group founded by Luis Anduaga and Jon Berbel, with Patxi Larizgoitia as director of its Architecture area.
The group creates, from engineering, better architecture and industry, better infrastructures and spaces, so that they have a positive impact on people, their environment, and on the future they create, with ingenuity and creativity, through its 5 areas of activity (Architecture, Industry, City and territory, Construction and Promotion) and that help them offer both comprehensive and specific solutions to the challenges of their clients.
A future that they shape by changing things, by creating differently, by creating with K. Creating with K means responding with creativity and commitment to every challenge, making any idea a reality, and acting responsibly. Creating with K is transforming, the most advanced engineering, clients' challenges into real and tangible solutions.
Its multidisciplinary team has the experience, capabilities, and sensitivity to respond to complex projects, offering complete and integrated solutions, helping its clients with a high-level design, and pursuing excellence in all aspects: image, functionality, economic conditions, and deadlines, energy, comfort, and health.
The group creates, from engineering, better architecture and industry, better infrastructures and spaces, so that they have a positive impact on people, their environment, and on the future they create, with ingenuity and creativity, through its 5 areas of activity (Architecture, Industry, City and territory, Construction and Promotion) and that help them offer both comprehensive and specific solutions to the challenges of their clients.
A future that they shape by changing things, by creating differently, by creating with K. Creating with K means responding with creativity and commitment to every challenge, making any idea a reality, and acting responsibly. Creating with K is transforming, the most advanced engineering, clients' challenges into real and tangible solutions.
Its multidisciplinary team has the experience, capabilities, and sensitivity to respond to complex projects, offering complete and integrated solutions, helping its clients with a high-level design, and pursuing excellence in all aspects: image, functionality, economic conditions, and deadlines, energy, comfort, and health.
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