Daniel Marcelo | Final Thesis Project: «Red Cross Building» - Daniel Marcelo

Final Year Project of Red Cross Headquarters in Cambrils. Catalonia

The project of the Red Cross comes from my experience as a lifeguard at the Cambrils beaches. This humanitarian movement gave me the opportunity to learn which the major social demands are in times of lack of financial resources.

Basically this project is located in the town of Cambrils (Tarragona, Catalonia), specifically in the old association «El Porvenir» or also known as «La Cadireta». One of the key features is that it combines an urban problem in the old town of Cambrils with a social difficulty. In fact, this dichotomy solves the urban and architectural exercise with a collateral improvement of social and neighbourhood ambiance.
The proposed headquarters of the Red Cross building consists of five basic pillars: soup kitchen, food bank, day center for the elderly, a training center and shelter for immigrants.

Architectural explanation:

The project includes the resolution of the square, also solves a cornerback headquarters that grips an inner island and a building between party walls to facilitate tour and permeability on ground floor.

Meanwhile, secondarily Square at the same level is solved and two apartment buildings also intended for families recently evicted.

In particular, the most important is the provision of a route linking the square/hall project, the building of the Red Cross is organized with an interior atrium that immediately connects with the inner courtyard of island, the inside of block is understood as a cloister surrounded by the building of the Red Cross and other neighbourhood buildings. Finally, the tour continues on the ground floor to the building between party walls of the opposite side, where is located the Foix Street.

Therefore, it is a project, which organizes the urban space in a home way, typical of small town like Cambrils. The square as a public space, equipment as defined public and the interior of island as a public-community is identified. That is, different categories of spatiality and its convergence with the surrounding buildings.

Year: 2014
Category: Urban Equipment
Photography: Daniel Marcelo
Customer: Red Cross of CambrilsArchitecture School of Reus.

Download here the project