© Pedro Pegenaute
The old town of Balaguer in the province Lleida is one of the most important historic town centres of Arab origin in Catalonia. Reflecting these origins the lanes around the new law courts building are narrow and crooked. Warm shades of ochre are dominant, not only in the soil of the fields but also in the facades of render or stone. The shell of the new building takes up this warm range of colours in the form of sheets of Corten steel and traces the irregular shape of the site.
In contrast the spaces in the interior are organised on a strictly orthogonal grid in order to meet the complex functional requirements. This results in angular, tapering buffer zones between the external shell and the storey-high glazing to the offices.
In contrast the spaces in the interior are organised on a strictly orthogonal grid in order to meet the complex functional requirements. This results in angular, tapering buffer zones between the external shell and the storey-high glazing to the offices.