Sports Centre in Vilanova del Vallès. Barcelona

WHO WE ARE

Onl, arquitectura is the continuation of the architectural firm

established by Joan Nogué and Txema Onzain in 1988, and which

Félix López joined in 2007 as a new partner.

We are a multidisciplinary team that provides comprehensive,

customised services in the areas of architecture, restoration, urban

spaces, and interior design. Our team is made up of 15

professionals, supported by architectural students and a stable

network of external collaborators who specialise in different

disciplines such as the calculation of structures and installations,

sustainability and energy efficiency, heritage and restoration,

landscaping and urban design.

Some of our most notable projects include:

Convent and Lodge in Eguino, Álaba,

Chosen in the IV Biennial Awards for Spanish Architecture and the 1997 Hispalyt Award

104 Social Housing in Viladecans, Barcelona,

Chosen for the 2005 FAD award

Garigot Nursery and Primary School in Castelldefels

2007 Catalonia Construction Award for Innovation in Construction

158 Rental social housing, nursery, community center and Parking garage in Navas street

for the Municipal Housing Board of Barcelona

Restoration and renovation of the Administrative Pavilion of the Historical site of Santa

Creu i Sant Pau Hospital, a building which was built in the Catalan Art Nouveau style and

declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO, Barcelona 2010.

calle Balmes 129, 4º 1ª

08008 Barcelona Spain

T 0034 93 454 83 87

www.onl.cat

onl@onl.cat

We like to create architecture which is based on the user’s needs,

because people are at the heart of our projects. We think that

equilibrium between form, function, and technology is the

cornerstone of good architecture. The practice of architecture gives

rise to a poetic discourse based on the never-ending search for

what is possible. For this reason we are interested in ideas whose

emotional and logical intensity helps us to capture sensations and

stimuli, rather than whimsical and fantastical architectural visions.

HOW WE WORK

At onl we believe that architecture is a collective, multidisciplinary work, where the

experience and knowledge of the whole team should be combined to meet our

clients´ requirements. We are committed to architectural quality, which is obtained

by close attention to all details of the design process and building quality, reducing

the environmental impact and emissions of buildings, and promoting technological

innovation, effective process management, and cost control.

To achieve this goal we have our own team of architects and external collaborators.

partners Joan Nogué, architect

Txema Onzain, architect

Fèlix López, architect

international department Erik Cremers, architect, local partner Brussels

Alejandra Otalvaro, architect, local partner Medellin

project leaders Esther Ferrer architect

Marina Berbel architect

architecture team Marta Cristiano architect

Gianluca Giaccone architect

Oscar Vendrell architect

Marc Torrellas architect

technical and economical Joan Puig technical architect

department

environmental department Cristina Ribera architect

administration Lupe Afonso office manager

Josep Orteu economist

Structure BIS ARQUITECTES David García architect

BERNUZ & FERNANDEZ Jordi Bernuz, Manel Fernández architects

Installations JG GRUPO Joan Gallostra mechanical engineer

FONT I ARMENGOL Joan Fon mechanical engineer

AVANT ENGINYERS Jordi Oliva mechanical engineer

ilumination design artec3 Maurici Ginés illumination designer

acoustic design ARAU acústica Higini Arau physicist

Energetic and environmental AIGUASOL jordi Pascual environmental engineer

efficiency

restoration and heritage TAULAT Clàudia Sanmartí architect

TdART Mª José Gràcia fine arts degree

landscaping IGR EMAP Ignasi Grau agricultural engineer

sculpture and urban space Lucia Onzain artist

We have the ISO 9001 quality management system and, from 2010 we started to implement the

ISO 14001 environmental management system, and the ISO 14006 eco-design standard, which

has enabled us to optimise the quality of the services provided, and increase client satisfaction.

calle Balmes 129, 4º 1ª

08008 Barcelona Spain

T 0034 93 454 83 87

www.onl.cat

onl@onl.cat

Van Hamméestraat 17

1030 Schaarbeek, België

T 0032 483 378 364

DATE OF PROJECT

BUILDING WORK

LOCATION

AREA

CONSTRUCTION COST

CLIENT

2010

2012-2013

Barcelona

1.250 m2

1.577.896 €

Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Private Foundation

The project has a big restoration work composed by

three different parts: the roofs and the clock tower, the

façades and the interiors.

The roofs of the Administration Pavilion originally had a

wide variety of decorative ceramic elements, and

several skylights that filled the building with light. The

clock tower was also ornately decorated and is a

signature landmark of the historical site.

The main objective is recovering the original image of

the building, for this reason the east wing only needed a

small amount of restoration work, while the west wing

was completely renovated in order to recover the

original symmetry and decoration.

The clock tower posed various structural challenges

which have been overcome, while elements which had

deteriorated or disappeared have been restored after an

exhaustive analysis of old photos, and the original plans

and diagrams.

The restoration work of the brick façades has therefore

focused on cleaning and restoring the elements that

have survived, respecting the patina of age that has built

up, or recreating the elements that have disappeared

remaining as faithful as possible to their original design.

Moreover, the carpentry of all the openings has been

restored or replaced, and the thermal capacity of the

building has been improved with a minimum of

restoration work by replacing the glass. The original

interplay of solid and void has been recovered, as has

the original symmetry.

RESTORATION AND RENOVATION OF THE

ADMINISTRATION PAVILION OF THE HISTORICAL

SITE OF “HOSPITAL DE LA SANTA CREU I SANT PAU”

Site plan

Aerial image

PHASE 2 : RESTORATION OF FAÇADES

North façade

North façade

Final state north façade 2012

Final state 2012 Initial state 2010

PHASE 3 : RESTORATION OF ROOFS

Initial state roof 2010 Final state 2012

WEST WING WEST WING

Final state 2012 Initial state roof 2010 Section west wing

PHASE 3 : RESTORATION OF CLOCK TOWER

1928 2008 Final state 2012

PHASE 6 : RESTORATION OF INTERIORS AND FINISHED

MATERIALS

Exposition space

Interior exposition space

Ceiiling exposition space P-1

View hipóstila room

View exposition space

Ceiling first floor

View hall and information point

First floor

Section

1960 Project

PHASE 6 : RESTORATION OF INTERIORS AND FINISHED

MATERIALS

Ceiling second floor

Second floor

View conference room

1960 Project Project

PHASE 6 : RESTORATION OF INTERIORS AND FINISHED

MATERIALS

The interiors of the Administration Pavilion, built by the architect Lluís Domènech i

Montaner, are exuberantly decorated with a wealth of ornamental elements, in

particular ceramic ones. The vaulted ceilings are the most magnificent feature of the

rooms and have been well preserved, unlike some of the linings, in particular the

floorings, which have either deteriorated or disappeared.

The project is based on two fundamental premises:

1- The building, which has a historic designation, has suffered a lot of damage over

the years, and the time has come to restore it to its original state of beauty through

careful restoration work that will remove any elements that have been added at a

later date, and recover the vitality of original elements.

2- The ornamental elements have been enhanced by the use of neutral and natural

materials for the restoration work, chosen for their innate simplicity, textures and

colours. By doing this it is possible to differentiate between the original features and

the contemporary additions in a way that does not detract from the overall harmony

of the building.

A primordial objective of the project was to adapt the building so that it could be

used in ways for which it was not originally designed for without losing its original

character. Extensive restoration work has been required to ensure that the building

can continue to be used today while still retaining the essential character of the

building created by Domènech i Montaner, and the spirit of service embodied by

Pau Gil, patron of the arts.

RENOVATION AND REDEVELOPMENT OF “LA CANDELA” NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL

2005

2008-2009

Valls, Tarragona

2.769 m2

2.861.923 €

Departament d’Educació, Generalitat de Catalunya

DATE OF PROJECT

BUILDING WORK

LOCATION

AREA

CONSTRUCTION

COST

CLIENT

The main renovation work for La Candela nursery and primary school, built by the architect Josep

Maria Vives in 1931, was to erect a separate staircase and lift by the central axis of the building,

and also to carry out extensive interior remodelling.

The new nursery and primary school is divided into three parts: the central part will house the

large areas, such as the hall, the sports hall, and the library, while the two side wings will house

the classrooms and services.

The new staircase will be made out of materials such as coloured expanded steel to produce a

sensation of lightness and interplay of transparencies and superimpositions, to contrast with the

tectonics and symmetry of the original building.

Ground floor

2

3

1

1- Image after building works

2- Image before building works

3- Image from 1934

Ground floor

Vertical section

Floor plan

Facade

Details images

”FONT DEL ROURE” NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL IN MASQUEFA

2003-2006

2005-2006

Masquefa, Anoia

3.509 m2

2.847.390 €

Departament d’Educació de la Generalitat de Catalunya. GISA

.

DATE OF PROJECT

BUILDING WORK

LOCATION

AREA

CONSTRUCTION COST

CLIENT

In this case there were several prefabricated modules already on the site, which helped determine the

location of the school. In contrast to other Nurseries and Primary Schools we did in the past, we had to

make this design more compact, replacing the large central patio for a regular series of patios to enlarge

the visual perception of the ground floor passages, and to create a place where the two different age

groups could come together.

The plaza from where the nursery and primary school are accessed is a sheltered landscaped area, and

a communal area for both schools. It is designed to ensure that each unit has the best orientation for the

sun. The block which houses the communal services protects the patio from strong winds.

The design for the school blocks closest to the street plays on a juxtaposition of size and colour,

harmonised by the positioning of the two entrances, which provide a strong presence on the street and

bring the public space inside.

Ground floor

First floor

“GARIGOT” NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL IN CASTELLDEFELS DATE OF PROJECT

BUILDING WORK

LOCATION

AREA

CONSTRUCTION COST

CLIENT

AWARDS

2005

2005-2006

Castelldefels

3.332 m2

2.607.218 €

Departament d’Educació de la Generalitat de Catalunya. GISA

Award in Innovation at “Catalunya Construcció 2007”

Chosen at “II Triennal d’Arquitectura del Baix Llobregat, Alt Penedès i Garraf”

. The school is made up of three units of varying heights, which face north-south and run parallel to

the street where the entrance to the school is located. The nursery and primary school are therefore

separate units, which are interconnected through the passages leading to the services areas, which

are the communal areas. Thanks to this design the building is extremely compact. The main unit has

several patios in the centre, that form green spaces which energise the environment. The opening up

of the interior of the building improves illumination and cross-ventilation in the ground floor rooms.

The severe outlines of the façades are counterbalanced by incorporating the stairs and lifts as

external elements.

In contrast to other designs, we decided to use an industrialised building system for this nursery and

primary school from the outset. This type of prefabricated dry construction is carried out in the

workshop-factory under conditions that optimise the execution time, quality controls, and the work

conditions. After the building has been completed in the workshop – including all the finishes from the

ground up – it is dismantled and the modules are separated so they can be transported to the site

where they are assembled and ready for use.

Ground floor

First floor

Works in the building

site

Mounting process

before works in factory

Works in factory

Transport and

mounting process in

the building site

Final result

1st month 2nd month 3rd month 4th month 5th month 6th

month

7th month 8th month 9th month

SYSTEM INDUSTRIALITY CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

2005

2007-2008

Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona

1.250 m2

1.577.896 €

Municipality of Sant Cugat del Vallès

Selected at V Biennal d’Arquitectura del

Vallès.

The existing Social Center expands with a third new

volume located at the south area of the building

complex. This new wing redefines two patios of distinct

character: the first courtyard is an enclosure and has a

cloister character, and the second one is more opened

and dynamic.

The extension is organized in three bars. While the first

one is associated with the inside courtyard and contains

the standard rooms of the program, the second one is

formed by the most significant and leisure rooms

overlooking the outdoor patio. Between both we find the

third bar which consists of the interaction area between

all the rooms, with a more representative character,

which also functions as an entrance hall for them. This

central corridor becomes a multifunctional space that

links the various activities and the natural expansion for

all the rooms. Temporary activities can also be set in

this area such as exhibitions, informal gatherings and

other collective activities. On the south-west corner, the

corridor widens to be converted into a café area and a

meeting point related to the outside patio through a

portico.

The section plan of the building becomes the spatial

leitmotif of the project. The roof rises to allow a diffuse

light to illuminate this central space, solving the

deepness and compact character of the building.

DATE OF PROJECT

BUILDING WORK

LOCATION

AREA

CONSTRUCTION COST

CLIENT

AWARDS

EXTENSION AND RENOVATION

WORKS AT THE SOCIAL CENTER “MIRASOL”

Site plan

Model

Ground floor

154 RENTAL SOCIAL HOUSING, COMMUNITY CENTER, NURSERY AND PARKING

2007

2009-2012

Poble Nou. Barcelona

18.790 m2

11.347.427 €

Patronat Municipal de l’Habitatge de Barcelona

.

DATE OF PROJECT

BUILDING WORK

LOCATION

AREA

CONSTRUCTION COST

CLIENT

Five projects for a collection of public use buildings: 154 rental dwellings for young people and senior

citizens; a nursery; a community centre; and two underground storeys for rental parking lots.

The scheme is organised into two distinct buildings separated by a courtyard located in the most

prominent position: the chamfered corner of the two main streets. By locating the courtyard on the

corner– the areas in the Cerdà Eixample grid which permit the best frontal views – we create a focal

point through which the interior square is revealed through an exciting use of space. The 6 floors of

the two buildings come together in perilous proximity, reaching over the courtyard to open up the

ground floor and enable panoramic views from the surrounding streets.

We have incorporated building techniques into the exterior design which create interplay of light and

shade through the careful arrangement of spaces.

Isometric:

1- Proposal project

2- According to normative

3- Solid emptying

Model images

Main floor

1

2

3

Street facade and vertical

section

Interior facade and vertical

section

CONVENT AND LODGE IN EGUINO

1993-1996

1996

Eguino, Álaba

3.600 m2

340.000.000 Pts

Germanes Mercedàries

Award “Arquitectos Noveles”, sponsored by HISPALYT.

Award “Opera Prima” sponsored by ANDIL Association from Milano.

Chosen in the IV Biennial Awards for Spanish Architecture and the 1997

Hispalyt Award

Outstanding work at “COAVN Arquitectura Awards” 1997

.

DATE OF PROJECT

BUILDING WORK

LOCATION

AREA

CONSTRUCTION COST

CLIENT

AWARDS

Evoking the walled garden of mystic tradition elicits an environment conducive to a place of

meeting, prayer and meditation. Within the enclosure the buildings are set out on different levels,

and include communal areas for meetings and walking paths. At some points we have extended

the enclosure by erecting a concrete wall which symbolically encompasses the whole ground

floor.

Inside the enclosure the imposing outline of the circular concrete chapel-oratory is highlighted

against the latticing of the brick façades in the background. In front of the chapel there is another

singularity: the wall enclosing the garden disappears, giving way to panoramic views over the

meadows and the landscape.

Ground floor

Section

calle Balmes 129, 4º 1ª

08008 Barcelona Spain

T 0034 93 454 83 87

www.onl.cat

onl@onl.cat