Step Inside the Enchanting World of Ted'A Arquitectes' Can Guillem i na Cati - A Home Like No Other!

As the fashion industry continues to grapple with the impact of climate change, architects are taking note and incorporating environmental considerations into their designs. The latest example is Ted'A Arquitectes' Can Guillem I na Cati, a stunning fashion store that balances aesthetics and sustainability.

The architects' first concern was the building's position and the space it freed up. They aimed to adjust the balance between the store and the courtyard and understand how they complement each other. The occupied space and open space engage in a mutual feedback dynamic, highlighting the importance of outdoor spaces.

To reformulate the courtyard, the architects utilized a traditional typology and discovered the open-ended courtyard as a transformation of the normal central courtyard. They even included a courtyard/lane as a variation that serves each and every room in the store.

The building is situated on the last plot in a sequence with similar dimensions and proportions, all with party walls and laid out with the buildings set on the south side facing the avenue and the courtyards facing north. These patios are shaded and damp, with no direct sunlight for most of the year.

The house is set in the longest direction of the plot, on the side street, to free up a courtyard/lane between the new house and the wall shared with the neighbour. The room structure and the bearer structure are coincident, providing each space with cross-ventilation between the street and the patio, and each room is directly related to the patio, making use of a piece of it.

The use of vibro-pressed concrete blocks for the load-bearing walls and sandstone for the outer wall and plinth provides a heavy facade with high inertia, an energy and climate strategy that enhances the store's sustainability.

Overall, Ted'A Arquitectes' Can Guillem i na Cati is a stunning example of how architecture can merge aesthetics and sustainability, especially in fashion retail, where the industry is under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint.