A Coworking in Barcelona Transforms Recycled Wood in Shared Creativity

The communion between architecture, design and creativity, is the inspiration for BCNewt space, located in Barcelona's Poblenou neighborhood.

At the beginning it was all ideas. The objective, to create an authentical work space. To achieve it, the community of BCNewt coworkers decided to be as far away as possible from the mass-focused aesthetics of the large chains of home equipment. "Thanks to some industries which still are in the neighborhood, we had every day a lot of wooden pallets disposal all around us” explains Gustavo Franco, project manager.

BCNewt was born in the summer of 2014 with the intention of create a coworking environment that feeds creativity. Now, after an extensive renovation, the place has a story to tell.

The pallet design

The first task was to transform an estimate of 17 pallet —timber structures used to transport goods— in suitable building material for different functional elements. Everything was filthy, covered with rusty nails and splinters. So they set about the task of selecting the pieces that were clean and in better condition. This part of the process took about two weeks.

"I had the challenge to create ceiling lamps that were functional and aesthetically interesting", explains Mercurio Sobocki, interior decorator and project adviser. That is how the pieces were constructed, with an assembly that spans over the different work areas, achieving an attractive geometric minimalism. In total, three lighting sets, with warm tones lights, on a format of elongated lamps, on linestra style or round bulbs.

With the solid pallet pieces was built what is now a strong conference table. At the edges, you can still read the burned imprint of the European railway systems. A sign of postindustrial identity. With other pieces, the thinner ones, the kitchen table was built. Here the community of coworkers remembers every day how important it is to share resources. Finally, when the wood remains seemed destined again to be abandoned, the thinner strips were used for the baseboards. "The decor of coworking spaces is the wave of the future in terms of office decoration, as it appears to be more professionals each year seeking to establish their business in this type of activity spaces", said Gustavo Franco.

About BCNewt

Located in the heart of interconnected 22@ District, epicenter of urban and technological innovation in Barcelona, BCNewt offices stand in an industrial building at Carrer Llull 47. In one of the European cities with the highest number of rooms and offices for cowork (according to coworkingspain.es), the new coworking proposals must be refreshing. Recognizing this value, BCNewt’s style pointed to shapes and has distanced itself from the chromatic monotonies and the traditional designs. Thus, they have inaugurated a multipurpose center with ecological and transgressive spirit, where space reflects and represents the philosophy of coworking.

A series of renovations were made around the office. On one hand, ceiling lamps, kitchen and meeting room tables, floor baseboards and divisions between the kitchen and the workroom, were built from pallets worked for reuse. On the other, windows, concrete columns and beams were restored to give new decorative details; the same for the electrical system, which happened to be green consumer, and for which they have created unique pieces from coupling nozzles and bulbs.

BCNewt understands space and architecture as does the architect Santiago Calatrava: "An art that determines the identity of our time and improves the lives of people." In short, a space that will motivate, commune and communicate the experiences and wishes of the coworkers of the future.

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Tags: architecture, Barcelona, cowork, coworking, coworking space, design