MIAS Architects has completed Lady Raval, a groundbreaking social housing project in Barcelona's historic Raval district that transforms a deteriorating apartment building into a vibrant community space. The project, which won first prize in the city's architectural competition, is located on the emblematic Hospital Street and represents both a restoration of a historic building in central Barcelona and a tribute to the memory and cultural roots of its inhabitants.
The original building had suffered from decades of poor planning and makeshift additions that left it fragmented and cramped. Over the years, the structure had been broken up into tiny units with temporary additions, including unauthorized constructions on the roof, making the building feel chaotic and uncomfortable for residents. The internationally recognized MIAS Architects team worked to maintain the integrity of the original structure while completely reconfiguring the interior into a series of open, light-filled spaces that promote connection and comfort among residents.
The building consists of two main sections: one facing the street and another L-shaped wing that wraps around a central courtyard. The architectural team removed all the problematic additions and restored a clearer, more functional layout with two apartments per floor in the front building and three per floor in the wing section. They preserved the building's two original staircases while adding an elevator in each section to ensure accessibility for all residents, and maintained a street-level shop that opens onto the street to remain connected to the neighborhood's daily life.
At the heart of the transformation is the central courtyard, which has been brought back to life as both the physical and social center of the building. Once closed off and cluttered with debris, the courtyard has been completely redesigned as a calm, welcoming area that connects all the homes and serves as a shared community space. The architecture tells a compelling story through textured walls, handmade ceramics, and colors inspired by everyday objects such as fabrics, food, and traditional tools that reflect the diverse cultural backgrounds of Raval's residents.
Working closely with architect and ceramist Carlos Jiménez Cenamor, MIAS Architects incorporated handmade ceramic frames throughout the courtyard that bring in patterns and shapes directly inspired by the cultural backgrounds and personal stories of the residents. These ceramic details are carefully tied to both personal and collective narratives, helping the space feel familiar and meaningful to the community members who call this place home. The colors chosen are bright and warm, and together with plants that hang from balconies and terraces, they give the courtyard a vibrant sense of life and community.
The design team also completely redesigned Lady Raval's circulation areas, including staircases, landings, and hallways, so they feel open and welcoming rather than cramped and institutional. Through strategically added windows and carefully placed openings, natural light now passes through the entire building, creating visual connections that allow residents to see and interact with each other throughout their daily routines.
"The project is both a refurbishment of a historic building in central Barcelona and a tribute to the memory and cultural roots of its inhabitants," notes Josep Miàs, director and founder of MIAS Architects. This approach reflects the firm's commitment to creating architecture that honors both the physical structure and the human stories it contains, weaving together the cultural richness of the neighborhood with the lived experiences of its diverse community, many of whom are returning to live in this newly restored and reimagined space.
