Restoration of Artés Museum. Vats Space takes place in the building attached to the Museum of Arts. It is a construction with an irregular floor plan, with 2 opposite fronts, made up of a basement, ground floor and three upper floors, which in a previous phase was the result of a significant structural consolidation. Also, the result of a previous phase is a staircase and an elevator that run around the building on the outside, on the north façade.
© Judith Casas
The objective of this project is to develop and condition the basement, ground floor and attic floors to provide them with sufficient facilities and finishes so that this space can be visited and adapted to current regulations.
© Judith Casas
The action consists of the creation of an open space on the ground floor with direct access to Roca Street. A metal staircase leads to a loft that connects this space with the stairs of the rest of the building, and with the adjacent building through an underground passage. The basement floor is also adapted to make it visitable.
© Judith Casas
The project highlights the set of nine vats and two wells from the 18th century, which are elements of great value that describe the importance of the building within the rural and wine-growing context in which it is located. These elements are highlighted by a perforated sheet metal floor that allows lighting to pass through from the interior. A set of arches that make up the south wall are also recovered, corresponding to a section of wall from the 15th century.
Project Info
Architects: Santamaria Arquitectes
Country: Spain, Artés
Area: 197 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Judith Casas
Design Team: Pilar Toll, Gemma Torras, Sergi Huerta
Engineering & Consulting > Services: Santi Marés
Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.