ÒRRIUS TOWN HALL. BARCELONA

The plan returns the Town Hall to its former location, the Església square, at the top of a hill. From the road, at a lower level, an outside staircase leads to the semi-basement, which was until recently the local prison.

The basic idea of the plan is to continue this external staircase by linking it with a linear section of the inner staircase that reaches the lobby of the new town hall, at the level of the Església square. A public route is thereby created between the road and the square, which incorporates the Town Hall lobby and reinforces its character as an urban space. A second lighter section of interior linear stairs provides access to the municipal offices, which are located on the first floor.

Inside, the building is organised around the single space that contains the staircase, which is supported by the dividing wall at the back of the plot. On the outside, it is a simple arrissed volume, with neat artificial stone cladding, and a sloping tile roof. The main façade consists of the entrance porch, the balcony and a corner window that modulates the treatment of the building’s most prominent arris.

Considering that the programme for the building is flexible, the proposed volume can accommodate various uses and is able to adapt over time to the new needs of this small town.