Construction of the Bovedas Hotel Sant Antoni dining room vaults.

Bovedas Hotel Sant Antoni

Bovedas Hotel Sant Antoni

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Project Description

Barcelona’s Ronda Sant Antoni has just opened Antiga Casa Buenavista, a 43-room, four-star boutique hotel that represents the culmination of a dream, that of the Andorran Molleví family. With this project, which has encountered many difficulties along the way, the Molleví family pays tribute to their ancestors, who opened the now defunct Buenavista restaurant a
century ago on the same property, which is now also being restored.

For the construction of the hotel on Ronda Sant Antoni, the firm TDB Arquitectura, led by
architect Juan Trias de Bes, has conceived a very welcoming establishment in which every
detail has been taken care of, with a strong design component, high-quality materials, and
where priority is given to the comfort of the guest. The original façade of the building and its graffiti have been maintained, while the interior is all new, although typical elements of
Barcelona architecture have been incorporated, such as the hydraulic floors and the highly
recognizable Catalan vaulted ceilings implemented thanks to prefabricated Flexbrick ceramic vaults delivered in big format concrete in collaboration with Arumí.

Emphasis has also been placed on the furniture, which alludes to Barcelona’s design thanks to the advice of the MINIM team. In parallel, Concepción Padilla has overseen the suggestive interior design and decoration of the restaurant Casa de Comidas Buenavista, which has also just opened.

Project Information

Architect Juan Trias de Bes

Location Barcelona (Spain)

Application Structural 

Construction of the Toorak.

Toorak Road 151

Toorak Road 151

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Photographs Dianna Snape

Project Description

In the 151 Toorak Road project, a 6-story office building located in a suburb of Melbourne, the innovative Flexbrick technology has been used to create its exterior facade. This technology consists of a second skin of bricks that is placed on top of a traditional brick base, and has been used to meet the needs of the project.

The facade has been carefully designed based on the analysis of the brick pattern of the old South Yarra post office building, which dates back to the 1890s. This building is one of the few examples that exist of the evolution of an Australian architectural style, combining Australian decorative motifs and art nouveau with American Romanesque and Scottish baronial forms.

The main motif used in the facade is a brick screen with a striking pattern, which is used to passively control the climate. This screen is located within a series of deep frames that further control heat gain from the northwest. Its color and pattern are vertically modified to respond to the mass of the building, urban controls, and the coloring of the neighboring context.

The brick screen drastically reduces glare and the interior temperature of the building, while maintaining views and connection with the street. Detailed studies have been carried out to ensure that interior comfort is maintained while reducing operating costs and dependence on mechanical cooling.

In addition, the facade features a double skin that allows for extensive control of fresh air and natural ventilation by the user, while maintaining privacy. The landscaped outdoor spaces, including a large rooftop garden and a terrace overlooking Toorak Road, provide outdoor green spaces for relaxation.

Finally, it should be noted that the offices have been intentionally designed with a raw and clean look and have been leased as “shells” to reduce or eliminate construction waste. In summary, the 151 Toorak Road project is an example of how Flex Brick technology can be used to create innovative and sustainable solutions in architecture.

Project Information

Architect Bird de la Coeur Architects

Location Australia

Application Facade

Construction of the Ettelburck parking

Ettelbruck parking

Ettelbruck parking

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Project Description

The Ettelbruck Elevated Parking, designed by Alleva Architects, is a cutting-edge structure that blends functionality and aesthetics in the heart of Luxembourg. This project stands out for its innovative use of the Flexbrick system, providing an efficient and visually appealing solution for cladding large surfaces.


Key Features
– Architectural Design: The design focuses on integrating the building with its urban environment, using materials that harmonize with the surrounding landscape.
– Sustainability: The use of Flexbrick contributes to the project’s sustainability, thanks to its durability and the recycled materials used in its manufacturing.
– Functionality: The elevated structure maximizes space usage, offering a practical parking solution in densely populated urban areas.
– Aesthetics: Flexbrick allows for a variety of patterns and textures, adding a unique aesthetic dimension to the building. The ceramic modules create a play of light and shadow that enlivens the facade.
Innovations
– Modularity: Flexbrick’s ability to adapt to various shapes and surfaces allows for great design flexibility.
– Natural Ventilation: The arrangement of the modules facilitates natural ventilation of the parking area, reducing the need for mechanical ventilation systems.
– Reduced Maintenance: Flexbrick offers a low-maintenance solution due to the resistance and durability of its materials.


Social and Urban Impact
The Ettelbruck Elevated Parking not only provides an efficient parking solution but also enhances the urban aesthetics of the area. Its modern design and the implementation of sustainable technologies make it a benchmark for contemporary architecture in Luxembourg.

Project Information

Architect Alleva Architects

Location Luxemburg

Application Façade

Construction of the Santa Pola, terrace wall with plants.

Santa Pola

Santa Pola

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Project Description

Francisco Pomares, architect charged to create this luxury villa in the prime line of the beach
for a relevant chairman in Spain explains:
“We were looking for a material and a system that would allow us to reinterpret the traditional
Mediterranean latticework, made of decorative ceramic pieces, which dress the galleries and
fences of many of the houses in the area. In our case, we worked on a somewhat larger scale
than the houses that surrounded us, and although we wanted a solution that would give us the
same functionality as this, mainly used as a sunscreen and privacy element, we needed it to
adapt to large cloths without posing a risk to its own stability. So, when we discovered
Flexbrick, we were struck by the degree of adaptation of the system to multiple situations,
with a high degree of complexity but very simple to the naked eye.”
The cute volumes and the controlled transparency and openings enable the perception at a
more human scale, for a house that doesn’t look as big as it really is, and relates to the classical
perception and references of canonical modern architecture. The materiality of ceramic adds
up a differential texture to that of its minimalist concrete wall structure, providing shades and
sun control needed for climate comfort of the inside and outside spaces, and framing the
unique view of the Mediterranean sea and the Isle of Tabarca cleverly captured by the project.

Project Information

Architect Francisco Andres Pomares

Location Alicante (Spain)

Application Façade