Abarán council and cultural centre
Location: Murcia (Spain)
Year: 2022 - On going
Type: Public Competition. 1st Prize
Client: Ayuntamiento de Abarán
Area: 2.000 sqm
Team: Pablo Valero Escolano, David Úbeda Sales, Carlos Orihuela
Building engineer: Luciano García Hernandez
Structures: Jesús Saorín
Resource: Corral del Conde (Sevilla Spain)
Our proposal for the Abarán town hall and art and culture center responds to the urban values and historical context of the site. The irregular plot, framed by narrow streets and party walls, allows the design to use voids and courtyards as central elements, enhancing both spatial quality and habitability.
The project unifies the existing Town Hall and the new building, consolidating the urban fabric while creating a large central courtyard. This intimate courtyard, inspired by the town’s Islamic heritage, serves as a semi-private extension of Plaza Vieja, acting as a transitional outdoor space between the bustling streets and the building. Public functions—including exhibition halls, lobbies, waiting areas, and a café—open onto the courtyard, promoting social interaction and flexible use by the community.
Interventions in the existing José Antonio Rodríguez Town Hall focus on preserving its original character while adapting it to contemporary functions. The fourth interior bay is removed to provide natural light and ventilation to all rooms, while a central lobby-atrium organizes the building vertically, creating a civic space appropriately scaled to the Town Hall’s significance.
The new building establishes an architectural and material dialogue with the Town Hall, particularly on its façade facing Plaza Vieja. The design reinterprets the tripartite façade in a contemporary language while maintaining coherence across the ensemble, reinforcing its civic presence. Secondary façades retain a domestic scale to harmonize with adjacent structures.
The central courtyard ensures quality lighting, ventilation, and atmosphere throughout all spaces. Service areas are positioned along narrow streets or against party walls, freeing the courtyard perimeter and reinforcing its connection with Plaza Vieja.
Overall, the proposal recovers and highlights the architectural concepts and environmental qualities of the site, integrating the new facilities into Abarán’s urban and cultural fabric while creating a cohesive, contemporary civic intervention.