World Trade Center Barcelona the "Pixel project" | TBI Architecture & Engineering

TBI won first prize in the limited interior design competition of the creation of a new image and the renovation of six public spaces of the well-known office complex World trade Center Barcelona, designed in 1999 by New Yorker architect Pei Cobb Freed & Partners.

The World Trade Center Barcelona, a landmark office complex located on Barcelona's waterfront with 40,000m2 of office space. Built by New York architects Pei Cobb Freed & Partners in 1999. Since then, the concept of workspaces has evolved significantly. A growing need for natural and sustainable materials, increase air quality, thermal and acoustic comfort, and access to physical activity increase well-being at work. As a result of the new tendencies, in 2020, the WTCB launched a restricted architecture competition to create a new image for six public spaces. TBI won the competition including the design of: a multipurpose room, a showroom, a gym with changing rooms, lockers for electric scooters and a bicycle parking.

Main concept:

The proposed new architecture is based on the geometric square as an individual form and as a part of a larger context: The Pixel. Inspired by the current design of WTCB the omnipresent square. TBI’s originate from the square and reinterpret the use and apply it in all the new public spaces. The Pixel concept opens up for an innovative and flexible texture, giving WTCB a new image, while maintaining the essence of the existing building. The pixel concept can be adapted to any scale. Light wood, exposed concrete, natural plants combined with open ceilings and exposed installations to give the spaces a modern character of their own. All used materials have been validated the toxicity compliance according to the limits established in the WELL indoor health and wellness certification.

Multipurpose room:

The multipurpose room is U-shaped and the design adapts to it by organizing the different spaces within it according to the use. A Z-shaped wooden wall cladding adapts to the space and integrates the most important elements of the room.The front part is the most public zone, with a lounge area and a long bar to meet with friends, have small informal meetings or just for a coffee. In the lower area in the center there's a more intimate lounge area. At the back of the multipurpose room is the more private area. It is a large and flexible room with seating for presentations and meetings for up to 40 people. The room is equipped with integrated shelves into the cladding to store pixel-shaped stools to be used when needed.

Bicycle parking:

The new bicycle parking is accessed directly from the front side through a sliding door with access control. A pixelated glazing is the new face of the bike parking, its transparency allows immediate recognition of where to go and gives the space a common identity with the other spaces. The entrance area has been designed to be very wide to facilitate the entry and exit of people with their bicycles. It is also equipped with a small workshop.

Lockers for electric scooters:

The pixel is the main element in the locker room for folding bikes and scooters. The lockers have a cubic shapes and the entrance is reminiscent of the bike parking to form an ensemble with the rest of the proposed spaces.The lockers aesthetically have the appearance of pixels, however, theare lockers come with different heights and depths to accommodate different types of folding bikes and scooters. The proposed configuration has resulted in a total of 122 ventilated lockers to avoid humidity problems, most of which are equipped with electric chargers.

Changing rooms and gym:

TBI proposed to exchange the positions of the gym and locker rooms and to adapt them to the criteria of accessibility and comfort of each space. This change has resulted in a gym with more height and more amplitude, making it a more pleasant and functional space and promoting wellness according to the principles of WELL certification. In addition, it allows for an accessible design as it is located on the first floor, connected at the same level as the central plaza.The gymnasium has a rectangular floor plan, with the maximum possible flexibility.

Showroom:

The Showroom design creates a minimalist edge for a virtual presentation of WTCB's new spaces. In line with the new modern and innovative design, the presentation will be interactive and virtual, taking advantage of new technical possibilities that are becoming easier to apply.