PLAÇA VIVRE

BARCELONA, SPAIN

ESTABLISHED IN 1626 as an independent town outside of Barcelona, the Gracia neighborhood maintains its unique identity despite its 1897 annexation. Gracia is known for its restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, narrow streets, and plaças — central, traditionally paved outdoor spaces where neighbors congregate to eat, drink, play, and celebrate.

Plaça Vivre replaces an abandoned marketplace in the heart of Gracia. All that remains of the original market today is its steel structure. This project takes inspiration from that structural grid - using it to create a new, elevated green space with direct connections to the street level. By liberating the ground plane, two new plaças are created—the lower paved, and the upper green and vegetated.

The building sits atop this new platform, featuring public kitchens, multipurpose rooms, as well as pools and water treatment facilities, making this a true community hub in the spirit of Gracia.

COURSE: Graduate Studio

DATE: Fall 2022

DURATION: Semester

PROGRAMS USED: AutoCAD, Rhino, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, V-Ray

This project was completed at the Barcelona Architecture Center

-1 PLAN

Pools, Treatment Rooms, Lockers

GROUND PLAN

Cafe, Reception, Administration

+1 PLAN

Multipurpose Community Rooms

+2 PLAN

Community Kitchens & Dining Rooms