• industrial architecture
• Barcelona
• arts center
• art factories
• architectural rehabilitation

In 2007 the Barcelona City Council formulated the municipal program “Art Factories” based on transforming old unused industrial buildings into new spaces devoted to culture and artistic expression.
The aim of this thesis is the proposal of the architectural rehabilitation of the old factory “La Escocesa” included in the municipal program and the planning of a new Arts Center connected to it.
The first part of the thesis is an historiographical study on Barcelona's industrial past. In particular, it focuses on the transformation of the neighboorhood Poblenou, where the factory is located, and on the current planning related to the industrial heritage. Furthermore, a thorough study of Barcelona’s factories rehabilitations was carried out. The buildings have been converted into offices, university campuses, libraries, civic centers but most of them have been converted into spaces devoted to artistic creation and exhibition.
The second part consists in the study of the project area and the graphic restitution of the present state which allowed the development of the design concepts.
The rehabilitation of the area is developed following two main themes: the recovery of the factory, memory of the industrial past and the design of a new Art Center. In detail, it is planned the conversion of existing spaces into workshops and residences for artists, and the design of a new structure that houses exhibition galleries, an auditorium and multi-purpose spaces connected to the factory.