A place of warm welcome transformed from former office
Barcelona’s Service for Immigrants, Emigrants, and Refugees (SAIER) has reopened as a place of welcome. The 2,500㎡ office building, constructed in the 1980s, has been reborn through a two-phase renovation and now houses several public departments that support the daily lives of migrants. Under the condition that the exterior and overall volume could not be altered, the first phase focused on refurbishing the building envelope, while the second phase involved a comprehensive reworking of the interior. Through this process, industrial materials, handcrafted materials, and geometric design elements come together to redefine the building’s use. In place of a rigid institutional environment, the space has been transformed into one that feels warm and familiar, like a home.
To avoid the monotonous repetition typical of office buildings, geometric elements and a wide range of materials were actively employed so that no two floors feel the same. Central to this strategy is the juxtaposition of industrial materials with handcrafted ones. Materials such as glazed tiles, spray-applied mortar ceilings, and terrazzo contrast with industrial materials including metal panels, wire mesh, and linoleum, creating a rich tactile experience. Assembly methods also reflect a DIY sensibility, lending individuality to the spaces while emphasizing the traces of delicate craftsmanship. The combination of custom-designed furniture and furniture designated by the city council allows the space’s distinct character and home-like atmosphere to emerge simultaneously. As the installation of external shading devices was not permitted, heat-reflective curtains were installed indoors to control solar gain. The gravel-covered roof was converted into a green roof, increasing thermal mass and reducing heat absorption. As a result, the building’s energy demand was significantly reduced, bringing it into line with contemporary sustainability standards.
Through adaptive reuse—a design strategy that reuses buildings by assigning them new functions and meanings—the program has shifted across layers of time. An office space once governed by rigid rules has become a people-centered environment, welcoming visitors as a piece of social infrastructure defined by warmth and a spirit of inclusion.
Project: SAIER / Location: Barcelona, Spain / Architect: Flexo Arquitectura / Quantity surveyor: Albert Brufau / Structural engineer: Luis Tresaco, Freddy Leon, Itziar Cabo, Alberto Espinosa, Bernat Ginot, Other Structures / Quantity surveyor: Albert Brufau / Sustainability: MTS Acoustics, Societat Orgànica / Engineer: AIA Activitats Instal·lacions Arquitectòniques / Client: City Council of Barcelona / Gross floor area: 2,500m² / Completion: 2024 / Photograph: ©José Hevia (courtesy of the architect)
