The new facility is situated within Mayoral Park in Interlahorse, Malaga, right next to a protected warehouse originally designed by Vázquez Molezún and restored by the same team in 2018. This project’s concept centers on urban planning within the complex, harmonizing the new structure with the existing warehouse.
This high-storage project calls for a new building standing 20 meters tall with a footprint exceeding 15,000 square meters—a massive volume located close to the existing 11-meter-high warehouse. Given this scale difference, it was crucial to approach the new construction with sensitivity to ensure seamless integration with its surroundings.
The integration is reflected not only in the building’s volume but also in its conceptual design, aiming to connect both buildings through their shared relationship with the textile industry and to establish a unified architectural language.
This context inspired two main design strategies: first, to break away from the traditional rectangular prism typical of such buildings by curving the outer façade and increasing the distance from the existing structure, thus mitigating the stark height contrast. Second, to adopt a fabric-inspired enclosure that engages in a visual dialogue with the existing warehouse, exploring the interplay of transparency and opacity.
The building’s five large arches that frame the four façades are subdivided into a series of smaller arches. This design softens the massiveness of the volume, creating an architectural expression wrapped in fabric, echoing the artistic works of Christo and Jeanne-Claude around the world.
From a technical standpoint, the project is founded on two key pillars: prefabrication and energy efficiency.
This highly prefabricated and modular project was largely assembled on site, with the foundation and a few minor elements as exceptions. The integration of prefabrication and BIM technology throughout design, planning, and construction allowed for precise control over the schedule and budget.
The triangular tubular steel structure was fabricated in Lalín, Galicia. Its 32-meter-span crossbeams were transported to the site for careful assembly, which included spiral staircases over 16 meters tall. The folded zinc sheet exterior walls were produced in Asturias, while the internal polycarbonate skin was manufactured in Arava.
The 20-meter-high exterior walls consist of two layers: an inner layer of semi-transparent polycarbonate that provides insulation and waterproofing, and an outer layer of micro-perforated zinc panels that allow natural light to filter through while shielding the polycarbonate from direct sunlight. This design improves the wall’s thermal performance.
Combined, these layers create an interior environment where the full height of the four façades admits abundant natural light, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and optimizing the building’s energy efficiency.
Project Drawings
△ General layout plan
△ Distribution plan
△ Detail plan
△ Elevation drawing
△ Section diagram
△ Section diagram
△ Detail drawing
△ Sectional perspective view
△ Detailed drawing
△ Detailed drawing
Project Information
Architect: System Arquitectura
Photographer: Fernando Alda
Manufacturers: Assa Abloy, BMI, Danpal, Europerfil, Metaldeza, elZinc
Lead Architect: Rafael Urquiza
Technical Architect: Rafael Roa Hernández
Industrial Engineer: Alberto Urquiza
Engineer: CEMOSA
Construction Contractor: ANDO
Installation Team: PACISA
Owner: Mayoral Moda Infant SLU
Location: Málaga, Spain
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