A former 1970s school building in Cartagena, Spain, has been given new life as a combined hotel and social community center, breathing fresh activity back into a neighborhood that had lost its central gathering place. The innovative project, designed by MEII ESTUDIO and led by architects Jose María Mateo and Elvira Carrión, demonstrates how adaptive reuse can restore the social fabric of communities affected by institutional closures.
The 730-square-meter project, completed in 2025, addresses a common challenge facing many Spanish neighborhoods: the void left when schools close and relocate their programs elsewhere. The original building, constructed according to standard educational facility designs typical of southeastern Spain in the 1970s, had become a lifeless structure at the heart of the community after its educational program was moved to another location.
MEII ESTUDIO's design team, including Javier Albacete, Andrea Sanabria, and Juan Antonio Abril, developed a solution that serves dual purposes as both hospitality accommodation and community gathering space. The architects recognized that simply converting the building into a hotel would not address the deeper social needs of the neighborhood, leading them to incorporate community-focused programming alongside guest accommodations.
The project utilized wood as a primary material, creating warm and welcoming spaces that invite both visitors and local residents to engage with the building. The design strategy focused on preserving the structural integrity of the original school while completely reimagining its interior spaces to serve contemporary needs. Construction was handled by MGM Construcciones, who worked closely with the architectural team to ensure the building's transformation respected its educational heritage while meeting modern hospitality and community standards.
The community center component of the project provides local residents with spaces for gatherings, events, and social activities that had been missing since the school's closure. This aspect of the program ensures that the building continues to serve its traditional role as a neighborhood anchor, while the hotel component brings economic vitality and introduces visitors to the local community.
Photographer Hiperfocal documented the completed project, capturing how the transformed space successfully balances its dual identity as both a destination for travelers and a resource for residents. The project stands as an example of how thoughtful architectural intervention can address social infrastructure gaps while creating economically sustainable solutions for abandoned public buildings.
