Esteiro health center | Díaz y Díaz Arquitectos

The new health centre will occupy both of the existing buildings, unifying them as a single block extended towards the south. The old hipped roof was modified with a flat roof in order to extend the useful area under the roof and create two complete floors: the top floor, for the exclusive use of healthcare professionals, and the ground floor for public consultations. The extended area to the south was converted into a double height space with access areas. The exterior walls contrast on both floors: the stone wall was completely preserved on the ground floor and a contrasting new Prodema panel ventilated wall was built on the top floor. The volume that has been extended towards the south is enclosed by a curtain wall, which creates strong contrast with the closed character of the main volume: it provides generous natural illumination and views over the estuary thanks to its transparency. In turn, this facilitates a direct visual relationship between the interior and exterior. This harmonious coexistence is reflected in the expression of the compositional method, and also by the three elements of the project: the existing ground floor, the added top floor and the volume extended toward the outside.