The project involved the reconstruction of the historical site and at the same time the expansion of the existing spaces. The total area of the building of the City Council of Zaragoza is quite substantial - about 44,000 m2. The architects chose the path of constructive dialogue: they did not “mask” their own innovations, but at the same time respectfully preserved the style of the parts being restored.
The long monotonous corridors, which are obligatory for the monastery buildings, impeded communications and therefore did not correspond to the tasks to be solved, because numerous visitors to the municipality should easily navigate and have quick access to any department. The architects tried to hide this flaw: the galleries were turned into attractive offices, and the importance of the corridors was leveled as much as possible by creating two-sided administrative zones.
As a result, the building plan is simple and immediately clear to the visitor. Administrative premises closed to the public are located along the perimeter. The main public areas are located on the north-south axis, while the east-west axis provides quick access to all departments. Thus, a natural filter is created between the public and closed parts of the building. And in the center - on the "sredokrestiya", the intersection of two axes, there is a large hall - the main "hub" that receives and directs the flow of visitors.
During the daytime, the interiors are full of sunshine. Light wood finishes in combination with white floor surfaces play an important role in this. Special "slats" on the windows help control too bright sun. At night, spectacular interior lighting is provided to highlight the rhythm and structure of the building.
