A new cultural space for the city of Reinosa
The new sociocultural center aims to meet the city’s diverse cultural, educational, and leisure needs. The program complements existing municipal facilities and creates new spaces for activities that previously lacked a suitable venue.
In addition to its everyday use, the building is designed to host cultural activities and events throughout the year, especially during the winter months, thanks to the flexibility of its rooms and interior spaces.
The project thus restores the historical and social value of the Reinosa Market Square as a meeting point and hub for community life.
Architecture Integrated into the Urban Environment
The site connects two different urban levels between Juan José Ruano Street and Sol Street. Although the original space of the old market followed a rectangular and regular geometry, the new building adapts to the irregularities of the urban environment and the existing topography.
The architectural proposal traverses and connects the different levels of the city, eliminating architectural barriers, improving accessibility, and generating new relationships between the surrounding public spaces.
The project seeks to integrate naturally within the historic center of Reinosa, preserving open perspectives and reinforcing the urban continuity of the surroundings.
Recovering the Memory of the Old Market
One of the most important elements of the project is the partial preservation of the walls of the old Market Hall. These remains are integrated into the new building as an architectural memory of the site and help define a more intimate and sheltered landscaped courtyard.
The building’s materiality also establishes a direct relationship with the traditional architecture of Reinosa. The use of local sandstone allows the new sociocultural center to engage in a dialogue with the urban landscape and the historic buildings of the old town.
The architectural volumes are conceived as large stone pieces that appear to emerge from the ground and adapt naturally to the existing urban void.
A Flexible and Multifunctional Program
The building is organized into two main volumes that distribute the center’s various cultural and social uses.
The first volume houses the larger spaces, such as the exhibition hall and the multipurpose room. Both can function independently or be combined to create larger, more flexible spaces for events, cultural activities, or celebrations.
The second volume contains the rest of the program:
- Library and media center
- Cafeteria connected to the interior courtyard
- Classrooms and workshops for training activities
- Teaching spaces
- Administrative area
- Soundproofed rehearsal rooms in the basement
This organization allows for the compatibility of different activities and creates a dynamic building adaptable to the city’s needs.
A Covered Space Open to the City
Between the two volumes, an intermediate space emerges, serving as both the main entrance and a large covered lobby for the Reinosa Market Hall.
This space connects the different urban levels through street-level access from both sides of the building, promoting universal accessibility and eliminating architectural barriers.
The lightweight roof, with its metal and glass structure, protects the lobby and brings natural light into the interior, creating a comfortable and open space that fosters a relationship between architecture, city, and citizens.
