Existing in a dramatic symbiotic relationship with the adjacent new stadium for Spanish soccer club RCD Espanyol, Splau Barcelona exists as both a impressive, modern structure on the scale of the stadium, and as a friendly and accessible destination grounded in familiar Spanish typology.

The dramatic association of this new entertainment/retail center with the new stadium of the Espanyol soccer club, gives the centre the potential for both a lively local specificity and a broader regional and national recognition. Espanyol’s new stadium is built alongside the important Ronda del Litoral highway, which connects the club’s home, Cornelliá, to nearby Barcelona.

The retail structure forms a multi-layered connective link between a new cinema complex on the east of the site, and the stadium itself on the west. The combined elements are then surrounded by a new public park. Together, park, cinemas, stadium and retail, are seen as a lively public venue that will draw customers not only from the local town and fan base, but from the larger regional users of the highway.

Drawn towards the primary entrance of the project by a dramatically lit tower or obelisk element, the visitor finds a familiar Spanish typology, a large paved plaza, which stretches from the outside through to the inside of the mall, activated by numerous food venues, which offer tables inside and out. The ground floor is developed as a loop around a center island of shops, however, in order to retain a local street-side scale for the experience of the visitor, the shopping loop is interrupted not only by the main plaza but by smaller square plazas in front of the fashion anchor, the supermarket, and the health club on the east among others. At the next scale down, visitors encounter some sort of visual or spatial interruption about every 50 meters, making the loop more casual and more varied, in the manner of an urban setting. This small-scale and varied experience is further developed in the diversity of the facades of the retail elements.

On the second level the circulation of the retail loop is interrupted through with a series of different plazas where people will have lunch and relax. The corridors also act as a balcony over the main plaza. Kid’s City, an entertainment place for children, and a department store, provide the big anchors on this level. The three levels of retail and entertainment of the central island are covered by a huge umbrella-like canopy. A series of different roofs and overhands below protect visitors from both sun and rain. The supermarket on the northwest of the site, is likely to receive heavy traffic from visitors, hence a second entry is located there. Two levels of parking are below grade.

The three external distinct facades of the project demonstrate well the play of scales which is carried on throughout the project. The façade toward the highway on the south of the site is paneled in a large scale, colorful and dynamic so that fast moving automobile traffic can quickly identify the center. That facing the city to the north is more tranquil and engaged with the park. Here the transparency of the building leaves it both visually and symbolically permeable to the views from the town, with its tower marking the main plaza and entry. However, when visitors enter the roundabout from the highway the façade of the movie theater is the first part of the development seen. The tall and prominent third building facade is moderated with a subtle play of materiality, in metal, brick, and stone.

Laguarda.Low Architects realized this project in conjunction with Chapman Taylor España. Laguarda.Low Architects completed the Conceptual Design Phase through Design Development. Construction Documentation and Administration were completed by Chapman Taylor España.

Photography by Ben Ghibaldan