Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio

Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Interior Photography, WoodRecovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Interior Photography, Stairs, Wood, BeamRecovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Interior Photography, Wood, BeamRecovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Interior PhotographyRecovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - More Images+ 32

  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  40
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019
  • Photographs
    Photographs:José Hevia
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  AutoDesk, Tallfusta
  • Lead Architect: Carles Enrich Giménez
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Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Exterior Photography
© José Hevia

Text description provided by the architects. In the south of the municipality of Puig-Reig stand the remains of the heritage site of the castle of Merola, dated from the late thirteenth century. Due to the documented earth tremors that shook Catalonia in the 1500s, only one of the faces of the defense tower, originally with a rectangular plant of 5 x 3,8 m and 14,8 m height, is still standing. The detachment of part of its coronation in 2016 put Puig-reig Town Council on alert. The high risk of collapse, with the subsequent loss of the monument, called for an intervention to guarantee the preservation of the remains and the recovery of the building for the village as an attraction for visitors.

Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Interior Photography, Wood
© José Hevia
Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Image 22 of 37
General Plan
Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Interior Photography, Stairs, Wood, Beam
© José Hevia

Two basic lines of intervention were adopted to meet these aims: the consolidation of the surviving remains and the reinforcement of the medieval structure. The reinforcement takes the form of a timber structure comprising 18 sections of a 14-cm square that follow the original perimeter of the stone wall. Like a scaffolding, it structurally stabilizes the pre-existing construction, recovers the original volume and restores its function in the territory as a lookout and defense point. The new structure resolves the functional reinforcement conditions and establishes a dialogue with the pre-existing stone wall, evidencing the intervention with respect to the original construction.

Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Exterior Photography, Wood
© José Hevia
Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Image 35 of 37
Axonometry
Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Interior Photography
© José Hevia

The missing foundation is recovered with lime concrete and the two structures are tied using wooden profiles anchored to the stone canvas at 14 points. The insertion of a stairway inside the structure provides access to the three original levels of circulation and facilitates the future maintenance of the monument. The ascent to the upper level of the tower recovers a point of view that had been inaccessible since the fifteenth century. Finally, the stones found in the archaeological excavation are reused to delimit the intervention and show the original demolition material.

Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Interior Photography, Wood, Beam
© José Hevia
Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Image 31 of 37
Section 1
Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio - Exterior Photography, Wood
© José Hevia

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Project location

Address:08692 Puig-reig, Barcelona, Spain

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio" [Recovery of Merola’s Tower / Carles Enrich Studio] 16 Jan 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/931955/recovery-of-merolas-tower-carles-enrich-studio> ISSN 0719-8884

© José Hevia

Merola塔楼遗址修复,三层材料叠加 / Carles Enrich Studio

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