National Physical Education Institute of Catalonia | Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura

A building belonging to the University of Barcelona for the training of physical education teachers, located within the Olympic Ring on Montjuïc. The outcome of the design competition held for the various Olympic facilities resulted in the brief for the INEFC being awarded to Bofill’s team, within the general plan drawn up by Correa, Milà, Margarit and Buxadé. After a number of changes of site and programme, it was finally constructed on the western edge of the Olympic Ring. The building is austere and noble in appearance, befitting a university building and in keeping with the particular “noucentista” style which predominates on the mountain of Montjuïc. The rectangular plan is composed of two squares which frame the two main training tracks. These two tracks, which are laid out over two storeys, are surrounded by various colonnades inspired by the university typology to create a cloister effect. The hall which separates the two cloisters is the main focus for social activities and for people to meet. The changing rooms and classrooms rise up to north and south of the cloisters, over two floors. The lower floor of the hall accommodates the auditorium, bar and restaurant. Access to the sports fields is by way of the door in the south façade and an external flight of steps. Program 17 classrooms, a conference room for 400 people, offices, library, audiovisual room, cafeteria, body-building room, wrestling room, sauna, changing rooms, and two 2,500 square Metre sports fields. Client: Catalan government Gross area 20,000 m2