Page 128 - AIT0117_E-Paper

VERKAUF UND PRÄSENTATION • RETAIL AND PRESENTATION INNERE WERTE • INNER VALUES

Durchblick – mit der Tourist-Information ist auch die ... • With the tourist information office, the connection ... ... Verbindung zum attraktiven Innenhof wieder aufgelebt. • ... to the attractive inner courtyard was also revived.
T he Spanish town of Olto is situated in the foothills of the Pyrenees right in the cen-
tre of the Catalonian region and is significant as to history of art and culture as well
as to its scenery. Tourists here visit churches, monasteries, mansions, galleries and
museums or, while hiking in the national park, enjoy the striking volcanic scenery sur-
rounding Olot. Since recently, those visiting the town are able to gather information
about the country and the people in a historic building. In the course of converting the
former Hospital de Sant Jaume into a senior citizens’ home, the storage rooms of the
former kitchen located towards the street became vacant. Here, in the middle of the old
town, the local architectural office arnau estudi d’arquitectura designed a new contact
point for tourists. In the course of the century, numerous conversions and annexes had
changed the building constructed around 1550. Thus, for instance, one of the accesses
to the inner courtyard was closed during the expansion of the hospital in the 1960s. In
his plans, architect Arnau Vergés i Tejero designed no less than two new entrances to
the courtyard which is surrounded by arcades similar to a cloister and has ample qua-
lity of stay. A statue of the Virgin Mary even had to be moved to allow breaking through
a wall for one of the planned openings. She now gently smiles at the passers-by and
follows the rhythm of the windows just one corner further on. Upwards from the first
upper floor, the formerly derelict façade now shines in elegant light grey. On the ground
Für die Realisierung ist sogar die Marienstatur umgezogen. • The statue of the Virgin Mary was relocated. floor, in contrast, the new function is emphasized with an open structure of vertically
installed metal rods. In the course of the construction work, the façade now situated
behind the rods had its layers of paint removed and what emerged was historic brick
masonry which is in direct contrast to the smooth metal also framing all the openings.

Gateway to the countryside – the flair brought inside

Schnitt • Section Before the individual functions of the tourist information office in the new headquarters
could be assigned, the area first had to be completely gutted and freed of the remnants.
The result is a long vaulted room with many different chronological layers. A particularly
exciting layer was preserved on the floor under a thick pane of glass. New as well as exi-
sting openings are closed with large-sized glass panels secured with a narrow metal
frame. Only the entrances are indicated by fine wooden frames. The thick walls as well
as the vaulted ceilings were painted white while, on the floor, concrete interspersed with
volcanic stone was poured. Loosely interspersed volcanic pebbles fill the expansion joint
towards the wall, functionally replace the skirting board and also add atmosphere with
local flavour. The architects benefited from existing differences in height which, today, are
overcome with steps framed in metal, for structuring the long space. All the furniture such
as shelf units, counters and storage surfaces are made of oak wood in combination with
dark metal. Counters, seating benches, storage areas and shelf units flank the room on
both sides. Quite naturally, the visitor is guided through the sequence of offers. In the
centre of the action, classic consultancy takes place. The chairs and luminaires with wik-
kerwork were developed and made by a local designer. In addition, the visitor is invited
to interactively experience the region. Short films are shown on a screen above the time
window set into the floor; one can also do research on one’s own by using a tablet. On
the opposite side, the in-house shop offers a wide variety of merchandise consisting of
Grundriss • Floor Plan articles from Olot – from souvenirs to coffee mugs to hiking sticks, anything is available.

128 • AIT 1/2.2017