A ‘FILTER’ BUILDING IN THE CABANYAL QUARTER OF VALENCIA

Many European cities are often home to degraded and/or abandoned areas or entire quarters that are, despite their state, characterized by a high level of cultural interest as historical memory of the city itself. It is therefore of great interest to regenerate these areas to restore their original value. The case study analysed in this research regards El Cabanyal in Valencia, Spain. This neighbourhood is situated between the historical city and the Malvarrosa Beach and was established and developed starting with the maritime activities carried out in the city. Over time, however, the area has slowly lost its original function, displaying increasingly evident degradation. In fact, the last twenty years have shown that the state of conservation of numerous dwellings has become increasingly precarious. The research proposes a ‘filter’ type of housing that would be used to rebuild an abandoned plot located in this neighbourhood. The objective of this architectural project is twofold: regenerate an abandoned area and create a public space that can house services for residents in the neighbourhood and beyond. The building designed acts as a ‘filter’ and is designed to allow people to pass through. Passage through the building was conceived as an ‘expository path’, where a permanent exhibit related to the historical photos and documentation of El Cabanyal can be presented. The façade is characterized by the presence of microperforated sheet metal that turns the building into a recognizable ‘presence’ in the evening. The building is ‘transformed’ into a large lantern that lights up and attracts interest towards a quarter that has for too long been abandoned.