Aribau195 is a project that transforms a 1980s office building and its inner courtyard—previously occupied by technical installations and impermeable surfaces—into a multifunctional and resilient urban ecosystem. Located in Barcelona’s Eixample district—one of the densest in Europe and with the lowest ratio of green space per inhabitant—the project revives the original logic of Ildefons Cerdà’s 1859 plan, which envisioned block interiors as open, green, and communal spaces. While this vision was long forgotten, since 1987 the city council has gradually recovered dozens of these block interiors. Aribau 195 aligns with this urban vision and elevates it into a contemporary and replicable model.
scob’s intervention is conceived from an integrated perspective, articulating three simultaneous scales: that of the user, the neighborhood, and the city. At the human scale, the project introduces a biophilic approach that connects people directly with nature: 1,500 m² of outdoor spaces complement indoor workspaces and offer opportunities to walk, rest, garden, exercise, or gather in a green environment. This continuous interaction with vegetation enhances daily life, reduces stress, and fosters mental and physical well-being. These spaces are not ornamental but essential extensions of everyday use, forming a new relationship between work and landscape.
At the architectural scale, 82.5% of the existing structure is reused, significantly minimizing construction waste, material consumption, and the building’s overall carbon footprint. The architectural strategy supports natural cross ventilation, maximizes daylight, and ensures uninterrupted visual connection with the inner garden. Green roofs and vertical gardens act as thermal and acoustic buffers. Both the 16 newly planted deciduous trees and the southwest-facing vegetated façade play a critical bioclimatic role: offering shade and freshness in summer, and allowing solar gain in winter, thus reducing energy consumption. The project has achieved both LEED Platinum and WELL Gold certifications, recognizing its excellence in environmental performance and occupant well-being.
For the surrounding neighborhood, the intervention transforms a previously closed-off and utilitarian patio into a welcoming natural space. It reduces the urban heat island effect, improves thermal and acoustic comfort, and visually reactivates an otherwise neglected courtyard. What once displayed technical machinery now offers views of a biodiverse garden with more than 5,000 plants, 16 trees, insect hotels, and birdhouses. The selected species are native or adapted, low-maintenance, and planned to provide seasonal variety and ecosystem support throughout the year.
At the urban scale, Aribau 195 operates as an ecological infrastructure integrated within the dense urban fabric of the Eixample. It contributes to cleaner air, CO₂ capture, and the filtration of rainwater and airborne pollutants. A sustainable drainage system, combined with rainwater harvesting for irrigation, closes the local water cycle. The design aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the European Green Deal, and Barcelona’s local biodiversity and climate adaptation strategies. This type of intervention demonstrates how private development can generate public value and contribute to collective environmental goals.
Beyond its environmental impact, Aribau 195 is also a cultural statement. It revives the founding spirit of the Eixample, forges new relationships between architecture and its context, and shows how private buildings can become models of civic responsibility. The project views landscape not as a luxury, but as an everyday right. It embodies an empathetic approach to design, rooted in respect for the environment, the place, the process, and the people it serves.
More than a retrofit, Aribau 195 is a transformative vision. A firm declaration that another way of living, working, and building urban space is not only possible—but necessary.
• Other credits:
LEED Platinum and WELL Gold certifications achieved, integrating biophilic design principles and maintaining a strong commitment to ESG criteria (environmental, social, and governance factors).
