A local relationship – Spain Revisited

With a terrace overlooking the beach of Playa de la Barrosa, Spain, a patio with a capacity for 250 people and a restaurant area for 100 diners, El Cuartel del Mar, the new space by the Azotea Grupo, located in an unbeatable location. At an architectural level, Azotea Grupo has relied on the study of Paula Rosales, who was in charge of the award-winning NuBel at the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid, and who proposes a very respectful intervention highlighting the unique characteristics of the surroundings of the Playa de la Barrosa.
The building’s redesign by More&Co aimed to convert it into a restaurant and an exhibition hall open to the public. The change of use of the building required rethinking the spaces to adapt them to their new life. A series of improvements have been made in the distribution, both interior and exterior, to take full advantage of the conditions enhancing the views and allowing the fluid use of the facilities, both by the visitors and the staff.
Respect for the environment was not only about enhancing the natural and historical value of the complex, but it is also integrated by using materials and local and traditional construction techniques, in a direct relationship with the artisan, revaluing the locality with a contemporary vision. Natural materials and Spanish products are favoured, making local and national design.
All the facade and interior partitions of the building are covered in light-coloured lime mortar. Related to the image of traditional Cádiz construction, this material acts like a breathable skin protecting and allowing the building to breathe, guaranteeing those who visit a state of mental and physical well-being.
The roof is isolated and covered with gravel and a continuous concrete pavement, again in light tones to protect from the sun, and also in order to integrate the building into the landscape from a bird’s-eye view. Low maintenance vegetation scattered on the deck and patio is included for the same reason, connecting with the surrounding landscape.
Inside, continuous polished concrete floors allow great flexibility in the distribution of spaces, giving a natural appearance and prominence to exterior views framed by windows. The wooden false ceiling and braided reed are replicated in the exterior pergolas in a continuous play of interior-exterior spaces and incorporate the acoustic absorption hidden within it. The breeze off cross ventilation between facades and the sound of the waves does the rest.