Between City And Sea

Apr 15, 2021
With Alex McKeel
Clemson University + Barcelona Architecture Center Project

Framework and Infrastructure is a celebration of the history of Barcelona as a port city with a strong cultural connection to the sea. This proposed system of infrastructural elements completes the green corridor from the Caserolla Mountains down to the Mediterranean, bridging the gap between la Barceloneta Park and the beach. To connect from the sea to the land, the design of the pavilion itself is derived from the traditional Catalonian envelats, large ephemeral tent structures made from repurposed sailing materials. These structures were often used for celebratory events such as dances and balls.

This project consists of two sets of ramps. The first moves people from the marina down to the beach; The second brings them beyond the breakwater into the sea. These two sets weave together to create the foundation of the pavilion. The prefabricated construction of the concrete ramps is derived from shipyard production technology. Fiberglass molds are created on a set of wooden frames to cast various concrete ramps shapes in. The wooden framework is reused to construct an interior space under the pavilion for amenities and storage. 

The pavilion is a large steel space frame that provides a grid from which to hang vertical textiles that act as ephemeral spatial divisions. Light is diffused through both these vertical divisions as well as the horizontal space frame above. The grid creates a flexibility of program that allows the user to reinterpret the space using their own designs and materials.