Restoration of a former convent (from the 13th century) into a municipal services building
In this project an old convent was remodelled to convert it into a service space for the city. Here the alabaster plays two roles; firstly, it acts as a non-structural wall, while also serving as a picture window
Inserted in concrete slats, the alabaster was treated to ensure conservation against the weather and was inserted with special adhesive elements, both for structural mounting and to provide the vertical join for the intermediate pieces. These joints can withstand a temperature differential from -30º to 180º without deforming.
The arrangement of the material on the walls employs square pieces of the same height but different lengths to provide a contrast in the horizontal lines. The picture windows retain a more traditional touch, as they resemble the stained glass or rose windows found in churches and help the light reach the walls of the building.
