Administrative Building c/Aragón 330, Barcelona

Refurbishment of public sector office in Barcelona.

For the renewal of the building envelope, designed by GCA Architects, the WICTEC 50 stick curtain wall system and WICLINE 75 evo concealed sash windows from WICONA have been used, manufactured from Hydro CIRCAL® 75R certified post-consumer recycled aluminium.

Located in Barcelona's central Eixample district, the refurbishment of the 1970s building envelope has been led by GCA Architects. The original grid-style façade, comprising vertical and horizontal structural elements, featured glazed and opaque panels and was ready for renewal. The design approach establishes a new architectural identity whilst respecting the original design intent. Improving both the building’s appearance and occupant comfort and wellbeing in line with contemporary performance standards. To achieve this, the WICTEC 50 stick curtain wall system was specified. This versatile mullion and transom system offers a wide range of configurations to accommodate the project’s varying construction requirements, with a minimal sightline of just 50 mm and profile depths ranging from 50 to 260 mm.

Maximising daylight and façade performance

The new façade system enables larger openings, increasing the glazed area to enhance daylight levels internally. From a construction perspective, it supports rapid on-site installation and is designed for future disassembly and material recyclability. Responding to the surrounding urban landscape, the ground floor and main body of the building align with the scale of neighbouring architecture. The upper levels are defined by vertical louvres forming a double-skin façade that provides both privacy and solar shading. The base adopts the same architectural language, reflecting the classical composition of buildings in the area. Operable facade elements, combined with a layout that opens up the building’s corners, enable effective natural cross-ventilation, further supporting occupant comfort and indoor environmental quality. WICLINE 75 evo concealed-sash windows from WICONA have also been integrated into the façade. Featuring a special glazing bead fixed directly within the thermal break zone, the system reduces visible frame sections and improves the frame-to-glass ratio, enhancing daylighting while achieving strong thermal performance (Uw values).

Hydro CIRCAL® 75R aluminium profiles with a low carbon footprint help meet sustainability objectives

The refurbished building has been designed to meet both energy and economic sustainability criteria, while aligning with the principles of the WELL Building Standard, which prioritises occupant health and wellbeing. Key design considerations include acoustics, daylighting, light quality, and thermal comfort, supported by design strategies that reduce energy demand while enhancing user comfort. WICONA systems contribute directly to these objectives. Manufactured from Hydro CIRCAL® 75R aluminium, they contain at least 75% post-consumer recycled content and achieve a carbon footprint of 1.9 CO2e per kg of aluminium – significantly lower than the current European average of 10 CO2e per kg for primary aluminium. In addition to reducing embodied carbon, the high-performance façade systems improve overall energy efficiency and indoor environment quality, supporting the building’s sustainability, circularity and wellbeing outcomes.

A modern workplace for public service

The building will house the new headquarters of the Catalan Regional Health Department. The interior design and refurbishment, by Elastiko Architects and Forgas Arquitectes, introduces a contemporary design that reflects a more open and accessible public office. The workplace has been designed to support flexible and collaborative working, with a strong emphasis on occupant wellbeing. The update includes the reorganisation of the building’s internal structure, notably the removal of the building's rear staircase to create a single central circulation core and a new façade facing the inner courtyard. This improves natural light from the south, enhances natural cross-ventilation, and restores visual connections to the surrounding urban environment.

The floor plan is organised around a compact central core, which consolidates shared and collaborative spaces while acting as the building's organisational backbone. This enables a highly flexible open-plan layout, with the curvilinear core geometry enhancing visual continuity within the space and ease of movement throughout.