OneOcean, the old port of Barcelona, has become the most secure luxury marina in the world. It’s a work of fledgling Barcelona-based studio SCOB, who won the commission in an invitation-only competition. The plan encompasses architecture and the design of outdoor furniture, signage and the tidying up of the old quays and docks. The port has gotten an elegant new appearance using simple forms, low cost materials and a minimal color palette. Take a look at the complete story below.
The Port Vell Marina infrastructure and facilities have been modernised, with 16,000 m2 of docks and piers built or upgraded, and two new buildings designed to sit on the water to serve the Marina’s users and visitors.
These facilities create a close link with the urban landscape and the other surrounding “architectures”: the yachts. The presence of these buildings is minimised, sitting on the water below the level of the surrounding public space. Their lightweight appearance and simple, elegant composition relate them to their place in the city, midway between the harbour buildings and the monumental architecture of Pla de Palau.
In order to also control and make use of the sunlight (multiplied by the effect of reflection on the water), the buildings are wrapped in a concrete brise soleil that shapes the transition space between outside and inside. These shady buffer zones shelter the users and provide passive climate control for the buildings.
The single storey building at the entrance to the Marina is closer to the city. In this case, the concrete brise soleil shapes the roof and the entrance atrium as well as the facades.
A more distanced position amongst the larger yachts is sought by the two storey service building. In this case, the brise soleil is deployed on the three main facades, interrupted where necessary to optimise light control, the functional programme inside the building and the magnificent views of the city.
