CO-LAB for SANCAL

In 2024, the studio completed COLAB, a transformative 400m² space at O'Donnell 34 in Madrid, serving as the new headquarters and showroom for the furniture brand Sancal. This project is the result of six months of intensive research and development, where the design team sought to redefine interior construction by treating the existing site as an "urban mine."

The intervention established a profound symbolic and direct dialogue with the building’s original architect, Antonio Lamela. By collaborating with his son, Carlos Lamela, the studio ensured that the new space honored the innovative spirit of this iconic 1970s office building. The project’s core philosophy focused on in-situ transformation, where materials usually considered construction waste were repurposed into functional architectural elements, from door handles to large-scale structural components.

Key to the project was the meticulous disassembly of the original office partitions and technical floors. The team repurposed extruded aluminum profiles into a sophisticated modular shelving system, while the original floor panels were reused as wall cladding. Even the galvanized steel pedestals from the raised floor were reimagined as garment racks and cabinet handles. This "no-waste" strategy was executed in collaboration with Zimenta and the Norte Joven Association, integrating social impact into the technical execution of the site.

As part of the "projects" scale, COLAB for Sancal stands as a landmark of circular architecture in Spain. It challenges the traditional showroom model by merging historical respect with a transgressive, experimental approach to materials. By avoiding new extractions and focusing on the creative potential of the "found," the studio has created a space where intelligence and sustainability are impregnated into every detail of the built environment.