A NEW TOWER AT AÍNSA CASTLE

SECOND PRIZE. COMPETITION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CULTURAL CENTER WITHIN THE AÍNSA CASTLE GROUNDS.

COMPLETING THE WALLED ENCLOSURE BY BUILDING THE MISSING TOWER THAT EXISTED. AN INTERVENTION IN THE HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF HUESCA.

Two men are on a balcony of a wooden building, with one man in a wheelchair looking out and the other man standing nearby. The background features a vast open landscape with mountains in the distance.

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PROJECT DATA
PROGRAM: PUBLIC FACILITY
INTERVENTION: COMPETITION
STATUS: SECOND PRIZE
YEAR: 2021
LOCATION: AINSA – SOBRARBE. HUESCA
AREA: 1.700 M²

CREDITS
ARCHITECTURE: BRENZO + LAURA SÁNCHEZ
CLIENT: AINSA SOBRARBE CITY HALL

Ancient stone bridge with multiple arches and a tall tower, set in a rural landscape with grass and rocky terrain.
A simple black and white line drawing of a city skyline with various buildings and arches on the right side.

WE ARE LOCATED IN A UNIQUE MEDIEVAL SETTING, RICH IN HISTORY AND MEMORY. THE PROJECT RECOVERS THE LOST SILHOUETTE OF AÍNSA CASTLE THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TOWER THAT, BY MEANS OF CONTEMPORARY TECHNIQUES AND NOBLE MATERIALS, EVOKES THE ONE THAT ONCE COMPLETED THE FORTRESS.

AÍNSA, THE NERVE CENTER OF THE REGION AND IN CONTINUOUS GROWTH, REQUIRES VERSATILE SPACES CAPABLE OF HOSTING CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THIS BUILDING MEETS THE REQUIRED PROGRAM WHILE BECOMING A MULTIFUNCTIONAL FACILITY THAT SERVES THE COMMUNITY.

Black and white topographic map showing a river, roads, and buildings in a town or city.

THE INTERVENTION TRANSFORMS THE CURRENT ROUTE ALONG THE WALL - UNTIL NOW LINEAR AND LIMITED - INTO A CIRCULAR PROMENADE THAT CULMINATES IN AN ELEVATED PLAZA CONCEIVED AS AN OPEN LOOKOUT TOWARDS THE PYRENEES.

Comparison of a structure's design, showing a sketch labeled 'Antes' on the left and 'Después' on the right, indicating before and after modifications.
A man playing a grand piano on stage in an empty auditorium with plush seating and wooden ceilings.

THE PROJECT IS RESPECTFULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE RUINS, CLOSING THE PERIMETER OF THE WALL. A LOW PLINTH CONNECTS WITH THE EXISTING WALKWAY AND CONCENTRATES THE MOST PUBLIC USES. ABOVE IT RISES THE TOWER, ELEGANTLY COMPLETING THE CASTLE’S PROFILE AND INVITING VISITORS TO DISCOVER ITS INTERIOR.

THE FUNCTIONAL PROGRAM IS ORGANIZED VERTICALLY: THE GROUND FLOOR HOUSES A LARGE DOUBLE-HEIGHT HALL, CONCEIVED AS A FOYER TO THE AUDITORIUM AND A FLEXIBLE SPACE FOR EXHIBITIONS OR LOCAL EVENTS. THE MAIN AUDITORIUM OCCUPIES LEVELS 0 AND 1, WITH CAPACITY FOR 250 PEOPLE ACROSS TWO TIERS AND MOVABLE SEATING THAT ALLOWS MULTIPLE CONFIGURATIONS.

Series of architectural floor plans of a building showing different levels, with each plan gradually reducing in detail from left to right.
An exploded technical drawing of a multi-level structural system, including foundation, support columns, and upper frameworks.

LEVEL 2 OPENS ONTO THE RAMPART AND BECOMES A PANORAMIC VIEWPOINT - AN OUTDOOR AUDITORIUM AND GATHERING PLACE. ON LEVEL 3 ARE THE OFFICES, WITH THREE PRIVATE ROOMS AND AN OPEN WORKSPACE, WHILE LEVEL 4 CULMINATES IN A PRIVILEGED MEETING ROOM WITH LARGE WINDOWS FRAMING VIEWS OF THE PYRENEES.

A modern conference room with a large table and eight leather chairs, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows showing a mountain landscape.
Architectural section drawings of a multi-story building with a mix of stone, wood, and glass elements, set against a mountainous background.
Progression of images showing different views of an ancient Roman aqueduct, evolving from black and white to a colored modern scene with tourists visiting and walking near the historical structure.
Three men are outside a large building, with one in a wheelchair, and a bird flying in the sky. The background features a landscape with mountains and fields.
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