G. Gracia, 123, BARCELONA
La Fábrica by Ricardo Bofill: Immersion into an Architectural Utopia
Authors: Margo Kashina and Natalia Tokmacheva, founders of Design Hub Espacio 123 in Barcelona
Visiting La Fábrica, the legendary workshop of Ricardo Bofill, is not just a tour but a unique, one-of-a-kind experience, accessible to very few. We were fortunate enough to step inside this iconic space by personal invitation, and the visit became a true architectural and design privilege — a chance to get close to the world of a great master who himself transformed space into art.
From Cement Factory to Architectural Manifesto
La Fábrica is one of the most significant architectural reinterpretations of the 20th century.
In 1973, the young Ricardo Bofill came across an abandoned cement factory in the suburbs of Barcelona, covered in dust and overtaken by nature. Instead of demolishing the industrial structure, he saw its potential for transformation — a concept that would later become central to his work.
By reworking the rigid industrial architecture, he turned the factory into a utopian architectural world: concrete towers gained new forms, gardens enveloped the structures, and the interior spaces became a blend of minimalism, industrial aesthetics, and pure spatial poetry.
“This place is a living manifesto of Bofill’s architectural thinking. Every room here feels like a chapter of his biography, and the entire project is an incredible exploration of the interaction between past, present, and future,” shares Margo Kashina.
In 1973, the young Ricardo Bofill came across an abandoned cement factory in the suburbs of Barcelona, covered in dust and overtaken by nature. Instead of demolishing the industrial structure, he saw its potential for transformation — a concept that would later become central to his work.
By reworking the rigid industrial architecture, he turned the factory into a utopian architectural world: concrete towers gained new forms, gardens enveloped the structures, and the interior spaces became a blend of minimalism, industrial aesthetics, and pure spatial poetry.
“This place is a living manifesto of Bofill’s architectural thinking. Every room here feels like a chapter of his biography, and the entire project is an incredible exploration of the interaction between past, present, and future,” shares Margo Kashina.
The Master’s Private Life: From Family Home to Office Spaces
Until recently, most of La Fábrica remained the private residence of the Bofill family. However, after the architect’s death in 2022, the studio decided to open these spaces and adapt them for new functions. Now, visitors can experience not only the iconic architectural areas but also places that were once the home of the great architect.
“We walked through Bofill’s former personal rooms, where he worked, reflected, and received guests. His presence can still be felt in these spaces. Here, design is not just planned — it is lived,” notes Natalia Tokmacheva.
“My favorite space, called the Cubical — a perfect cube, a former residential part of the factory — has its own separate access to a terrace overlooking Bofill’s iconic creation, Walden 7,” adds Margo.
Today, all of La Fábrica functions as the studio of Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura, and this shift from private to public creates a unique opportunity to engage with the architect’s legacy from a new perspective. The main engine hall of the former cement factory has been transformed into a large workshop called the Temple — truly a temple of architecture.
“We walked through Bofill’s former personal rooms, where he worked, reflected, and received guests. His presence can still be felt in these spaces. Here, design is not just planned — it is lived,” notes Natalia Tokmacheva.
“My favorite space, called the Cubical — a perfect cube, a former residential part of the factory — has its own separate access to a terrace overlooking Bofill’s iconic creation, Walden 7,” adds Margo.
Today, all of La Fábrica functions as the studio of Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura, and this shift from private to public creates a unique opportunity to engage with the architect’s legacy from a new perspective. The main engine hall of the former cement factory has been transformed into a large workshop called the Temple — truly a temple of architecture.
Architecture as a Living Organism
La Fábrica is not a frozen monument but a living environment, constantly changing and continuing its evolution. Concrete walls are entwined with greenery, interiors are filled with light and air, and the strict geometry of modernism blends organically with natural elements. Architectural styles and concepts overlap here: Romanesque intertwined with Gothic, complemented by Brutalism, meeting Japanese bamboo gardens and Escher-like fantastical staircases.
“This place is an example of how architecture can be philosophy. Bofill didn’t just create buildings; he created entire worlds where nature and concrete interact as equals,” concludes Margo Kashina.
Our visit to La Fábrica is a truly unique experience, offering a glimpse into the architecture of the future born from the past. This is a space where concrete transforms into poetry, and forms become ideas.
“This place is an example of how architecture can be philosophy. Bofill didn’t just create buildings; he created entire worlds where nature and concrete interact as equals,” concludes Margo Kashina.
Our visit to La Fábrica is a truly unique experience, offering a glimpse into the architecture of the future born from the past. This is a space where concrete transforms into poetry, and forms become ideas.
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