Warehouse rehabilitation of public library and music school in Almonte

The rehabilitation of the "Los Reales de Almonte" warehouse addresses the conversion of a building registered as being of Cultural Interest into a public library and a School of Arts for music, dance, and visual arts. The original structure, measuring 78 meters in length by 10.5 meters in width, is situated within a public square in the local "Culture City," adjacent to the town's new theatre. The primary challenge of the project involves adapting the multi-functional program into a typical local wine cellar that is open on three of its sides. The intervention introduces a new independent structure and foundations to construct an upper gallery, preserving the original features and spatial characteristics without altering the pre-existing load-bearing system. The program is distributed modularly, allocating 14 of the warehouse's 17 modules to the library and the remaining 3 modules in the East Wing to the School of Arts. The interior and furniture design utilizes simple, easily repeatable geometries to consistently satisfy the diverse requirements of the public services provided. The main entrance is positioned in the southeast of the building, opening into a spacious area that leads to the book control, loaning, and administration zone, which features a controlled ceiling height. This area transitions into the press and reading room, which utilizes the full height of the original warehouse. The ground floor program concludes in the children's area, illuminated by large, diffuse light sources, which includes a small storage area and a second staircase connecting to the upper floor, where a secondary reading room and audio-visual spaces are located.