Santa Ana Access

A New Entrance for the Convent of Santa Ana

The entrance project undertaken by Angulo Arquitectura stems from a desire to establish a dialogue between the convent’s historic architecture and a new contemporary structure.

To achieve this, a lightweight, black-painted steel structure and large glazed surfaces are incorporated alongside the existing wall. The new addition does not seek to replicate the language of the old convent but rather to distinguish itself through a clearly recognizable contemporary architectural style.

The contrast between the steel, glass, and regular geometry of the new structure and the historic walls allows the new to be distinguished from the existing, while preserving the historic building’s presence and prominence. The two architectural styles coexist and can be perceived simultaneously, creating a transition between the entrance and the old convent.

A Metal Structure as an Architectural Element

The metal structure is organized around a regular grid of vertical and horizontal elements that guides the path to the entrance.

The profiles serve not only a structural function but also contribute to the visual identity of the entrance. Their repetition creates a rhythm that accompanies the visitor and adds depth to the new façade. Additionally, the large glass surfaces provide transparency, maintaining a visual connection to the old convent from the new entrance.

A New Image for the Entrance

One of the project’s most distinctive features is the extension of metal profiles above the enclosure, creating a comb-like or lattice structure that provides continuity and shapes a new silhouette for the entrance.

This repetition of vertical elements adds depth and alters the perception of the façade depending on the lighting and the viewer’s vantage point. At the same time, it introduces a new scale and creates a gradual transition into the interior of the former convent.

Renovation and New Uses for Santa Ana

The project is part of a broader initiative to restore and adapt the Santa Ana Convent, which has gradually incorporated new public and cultural functions in recent decades without losing the character of its historic architecture.

The new entrance thus serves as a meeting point between the existing structure and contemporary design, introducing an architectural intervention that allows this historic complex to remain in use and full of life.