The tugboat building, a master builder's construction, dates from the beginning of the 20th century and for years has endured low-quality renovations.
That is why the proposed refurbishment, added to the fact that it is located at the end of a front of buildings with the same port colonial character, proposes a reconstruction operation of its central part (the most damaged structure), arrangement of the lateral towers and only raises a new cover, where the maximum height is maintained and collects a large skylight in its upper crowning as well as large windows on both sides of the promenade and the port.
The two-storey building houses a shop, a showroom and bathrooms on the ground floor, while on the upper floor there is the office, warehouse, meeting room and a large multi-purpose room for to the different institutional acts.
The refurbishment of the building is understood from the point of view of the set of buildings that follow on this same front, all of them subject to a subsequent one that will be carried out in the port of Barcelona.
The solution of the roof of the central body, without varying the height or the configuration of the roof with two gables, responds to an idea of a rib through which natural light penetrates and is reflected during the day while at night it is projected as a big lighthouse.
Constructively, a system of panels for the façade, beams, slabs and pilasters, all prefabricated, make up the central body reconstructed faithfully to the pre-existing structure. Above this a structure in the form of ribs guided by steel plates rises, and between which the glass surface folds allowing the entry of vertical and zenithal light. The rigorously reformed lateral towers adapt with their voids and interior spaces to the new program.
Finally, the broken white melts throughout the building so that only the game of reflections, lights and shadows of the new intervention takes the spotlight.
