To the northeast of Barcelona, between the Cingles de Gallifa and Cingles d'en Bertí, lies the village of Riells, where the Comas-Pont arquitectes studio has proposed a unique platform that restores the historic center and fosters community ownership
the project recovers the collective memory of the place
The proposal is conceived as a unified complex that seeks to blend into the rugged terrain of limestone and reddish earth
referencing the predominant color palette of the land surrounding the village
integrates the final image of the square into its natural surroundings
The project carried out by the architectural team at Comas-Pont Arquitectes can be summarized in three main concepts: the plaza
By giving prominence to existing central elements
and creating shaded spaces thanks to the vegetation
the architects have enhanced the use of the open spaces in the village of Riells
the proposal reclaims spaces originally occupied by vehicles
now offering them as quiet spaces where residents can socialize
the project proposes a staircase-step system that offers views of the Cingles d'en Bertí
The project for Riells Plaza can be summarized as a democratic architecture that enhances the sense of belonging to the place and creates spaces that can be used by all residents on equal terms
Description of project by Comas-Pont arquitectes
The surroundings of the village of Riells are formed by the cliffs of Gallifa and the cliffs of Bertí
a rugged and calcareous terrain with reddish soils
The proposal intends to recover the old town for the citizen in dialogue with the surrounding landscape
Its historic centre around the church of Sant Vicenç and the cemetery
is paved with solid reddish brick recalling the tonality of the land of the cliffs that surround the town
managing to integrate the final image into the natural landscape and achieving a unitary whole around the church
A single platform is proposed to improve accessibility and return public space to the citizen
A new hanging lighting recalls popular festivals and its past as a summer village
The squareThe existing well in the square is recovered as the central point of the geometry of the new pavement
of the water’s collection and the location of the new fountain
A linear bench runs along the church achieving rest areas without losing the versatility of the square
while solving the humidity problems suffered in the interior nave
A new tree which dialogues with the existing fig tree at the top of the bell tower
the existing slope is solved by introducing a staircase-step
and a solid handrailing is proposed which hide the buildings of the lower terrace
enhancing the views of the cliffs of Bertí
Collective places The project recovers an occupied space by vehicles in a space for the citizen
which restores the quiet life of a village where children can play while their parents socialize and the elderly rest on the bench
It becomes a democratic architecture to be experienced by everyone and under equal conditions
Three collective objects define the square and achieve a comfortable space: the bench (the rest)
the tree (the shade) and the Fountain (the refreshment)
Water The intervention recovers the memory of the place
discovering the historic walled well and converting it as the protagonist
The entire radial geometry of the square is concentrated at the midpoint of the well
while an extension of it integrates the collection of rainwater and the jet of water from the fountain without contaminating the well
The landThe reddish soils of the surroundings solidify in the solid bricks of elongated format
introducing the landscape and its tones to the old town of the village
This poetics of space achieves a sense of belonging to the place
Comas-Pont arquitectes
Adrià Goula
Comas Pont Arquitectes is an architectural firm based in Vic
founded in 2004 by Jordi Comas and Anna Pont
and public spaces with a strong sustainability component
They work with architecture and landscape through the lens of humankind's relationship with the physical and social environment and climate to propose new ways of living
They have received several awards and mentions
including the MADA European Prize (UIA) in Moscow (2013)
the Architecture Awards in the United Kingdom (2017)
the Panorama of Works Award at the 14th Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism (2018)
the NAN Award for the Spanish project with the best energy efficiency (2018)
and the Hispalyt Brick Architecture Award (2023)
they have been finalists for the Fad Awards
and have been nominated for the Mies Van de Rohe European Awards
Their professional career includes several projects in the healthcare field
such as the Osona Psychopedagogical Medical Center
the Riells i Viabrea Primary Care Center (PCC)
the Can Llong Primary Care Center in Sabadell
Jordi Comas is an architect with degrees from the Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB-UPC) and the École Polytechnique de Lausanne (EPFL)
Anna Pont is an architect with a degree from the Vallés School of Architecture (ETSAV-UPC) and an artist
Selected for several international painting awards
Archive Architecture