Convent Hotel. Arenys de Mar
The project transforms the former Santa Clara Convent (1905) into a hotel and equestrian complex, reactivating a historically significant but abandoned building within the urban fabric of Arenys de Mar. The original convent, characterized by its exposed brick façades, is preserved and restored, while later-added volumes with little architectural value are removed to recover the clarity of the original structure.
A new street is introduced to improve access, visibility, and natural light, organizing the urban block and ensuring permeability on all four façades while avoiding the shadow impact of the adjacent courthouse building. The intervention establishes a dual program: a hotel integrated into the existing convent, complemented by new construction housing offices and an equestrian club, carefully resolving the level difference between the two parallel streets.
The project is driven by section as a strategic response to the site’s complex topography, where varying slopes enrich the architectural experience. Two new longitudinal volumes run parallel to the convent, creating a dialogue between old and new through a sequence of solids and voids. These are connected by patios and skylights that absorb the changes in level, bring light into the interior spaces, and mediate the relationship between the convent, the hotel, and the equestrian facilities.
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