Documentation All images © Ricardo Bofill.

Ombu, Warehouse redevelopment in, Barcelona,

Spain

Ombú is a transformative office building built for the Spanish

infrastructure and energy company ACCIONA. This retrofit project
breathes new life into a historic industrial building in Madrid,
creating a sustainable exemplar of building reuse and revitalising
the surrounding area. With over 10,000 square metres of new office
space, the project unifies a unique mix of private and public land
with green landscaping that extends to the adjoining Méndez
Álvaro station.

Originally built in 1905 by the architect Luis de Landecho, the

building once supplied energy to the surrounding areas. It later fell
into disuse until ACCIONA acquired it in 2017, saving it from
demolition, a fate that other similar structures in the area had
experienced in recent years. The project capitalises on the existing
load-bearing structure that supports the pitched steel trusses. The
historic building envelope has been retained to conserve over
10,000 tonnes of original brick and mitigate the environmental
impact.

mbu, Warehouse redevelopment in, Barcelona,

pain, by Foster + Partners,

rehouse

ansformative office building built for the Spanish infrastructure and

ergy company ACCIONA.
The lightweight structure inserted inside the space is made from sustainably sourced
timber from local forests and allows for spatial flexibility, while also integrating lighting,
ventilation and other services. The timber structure will save more than 1,600 tonnes of
CO2 and is recyclable and demountable. A central skylight brings natural light to the
interior, reducing the need for artificial lighting, while the glazing incorporates photovoltaic
technologies that generate electricity.

Taking advantage of Madrid’s temperate climate, a new courtyard offers the option to
comfortably work outdoors. The courtyard connects to a large 12,400 square-metre park
with 350 trees featuring outdoor working spaces and areas for informal meetings sheltered
by a green canopy of trees. Local species have been carefully selected to reduce water
consumption, which will come from local sources. The new green, public space connects
the building with the surrounding community and generates a positive social impact.
Located in the lively Arganzuela district, Ombú also benefits from direct access to rail and
bus networks, encouraging employees to travel by public transport.

One of the most sustainable projects by Foster + Partners, the project was presented at
COP26 in Glasgow as a case study for the World Green Building Council. Its environmental
impact is compatible with the original 2°C aim of the Paris Agreement and its carbon
footprint has been carefully measured and controlled. The design reduces embodied
carbon by 25 percent when compared to a new build over the whole life of the project,
while making allowances for future refurbishment. The operational energy is calculated to
be 35 percent below normal expectations.

Using the concept of ecological footprint, the life cycle impact of the project was quantified
and improved across all aspects of the development. When contextualised in terms of
planets the result was approximately equal to 1. This means Ombú’s carbon emissions will
be absorbed by the capacity of the earth, achieving the balance of sources and sinks
required by the Paris Agreement