Pont i Vic. Nine unique apartments and an art gallery

31/05/2022

GRAS Reynés Arquitectos recovered a large historic building from the 16th century in the heart of the old town of Palma de Mallorca. The design process began with a thorough investigation of its historical origins, the alterations made over the centuries, and, above all, the historical traces that have reached our days, providing clues to the splendid past of the building and its great possibilities.

© Tomeu Canyellas Photography

The origins of Pont i Vic date back to the 16th century when it was part of Can Ayamans. Traces of their common origin can be found in the courtyard where large arcades can still be seen crossing in the direction of Can Ayamans. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the building endured numerous changes that distorted its Renaissance origin, thus losing the unity both properties had.

At first glance, Pont i Vic looks like a “normal” old town building, with a facade of little value due to the past renovations. However, the building hides a precious gem: the central patio, accessible through a vaulted passage, initially hidden under a suspended ceiling. The vaults are in a perfect state of preservation, supported by a central limestone pillar. The renovation project takes special attention on the recovery, not only for the building, but for the city of Palma, of this splendid common space. Both spaces open up to the outside so that they can be seen from the street, making visible to all the citizens a magnificent space hidden for many years. 

© Tomeu Canyellas Photography

In the central patio the remains of the common past with Can Ayamans become visible after the renovation: a large 2-storey arcade that formerly connected the two buildings and the old ironmongery elements that have been restored and even replicated in the other railings of the building. The renovation project includes the design of duplex apartments to integrate this very interesting architectural trace into the project as a whole and the recovery of the perimeter wooden gallery that provides the upper floors with large windows.

© Tomeu Canyellas Photography

The nine apartments are arranged around the central courtyard. In addition to the aforementioned duplexes, 5 additional floors are designed, penthouses with private access to the roof terrace from where you can enjoy views of the many churches in the neighborhood, including the Cathedral. All floors are connected by the original staircase restored following the same criteria as in the courtyard: to show and emphasize the ancient marés vaults.

© Tomeu Canyellas Photography

Another important part of the building is the 6A art gallery. A prestigious cultural entity of Palma which has set up its new headquarters in Pont i Vic, showing the city their artistic and industrial heritage now visible through the large windows of Pureza St. and the courtyard of the building itself.

6A Art Gallery - © Tomeu Canyellas Photography

The precise selection of natural, noble and local materials, in line with the building's history and Mediterranean essence, is crucial to the project. A simple palette of natural materials runs throughout the project, combining the recovery of the historic stone elements and original ironwork with materials suitable for a project of this nature: wood carpentry, stone and wood structural elements, plaster and wood moldings, wood coffered ceilings, mortar and lime coatings, ceramic, stone and wood floors, wrought ironwork.

The interior of the apartments has been designed together with the interior designer Javiera Sánchez.

© Tomeu Canyellas Photography

Regardless of being an historical building, the aim was to provide Pont i Vic with very high sustainability standards in order to achieve high energy efficiency. Passivhaus strategies are implemented such as high insulation thicknesses or cross ventilation of the apartments, taking advantage of the central patio. Sustainability is more than a responsibility; it is mandatory nowadays.

 

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