Tarragona Public Passenger Terminal / Hombre de Piedra ArquitectosSave this picture! Simn GarcaArchitects: Hombre de Piedra ArquitectosAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:2851 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Simn Garca Lead Architects: Juan Manuel Rojas Fernndez, Laura Dominguez Hernndez More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Faced with the challenge of an unpredictable future marked by rapid change, where needs shift quickly, we propose an architecture capable of evolving over time, allowing expansions, transformations, or reductions to adapt to new demands without losing its architectural qualities. It should even allow for simple and cost-effective dismantling if necessary.Save this picture!Save this picture!Perhaps, rather than pursuing traditional, heavy, and eternal architecture, sustainability and current demands call for lightweight, modular architecture that facilitates future adaptations and aligns with modern production methodsno longer reliant on increasingly scarce traditional construction but on industrialized processes.Save this picture!In this context, the Tarragona Public Passenger Terminal explores modularity and off-site industrialized construction. However, instead of resorting to the conventional stacking of rectangular boxes, it proposes complex geometries inspired by tradition and the mathematics of plane tessellation. These non-orthogonal geometries enhance passenger flow and enable spatial explorations that create a sculptural identity linked to Mediterranean architectural heritage.Save this picture!Save this picture!The proposed geometry also represents a triumph of organic underwater forms over the rigidity typical of concrete port infrastructure. The large scale of cruise ships offers passengers an aerial perspective, turning the roof into the buildings main faade. A unique grid reveals the interior geometry of irregular pentagons, all identical, crowned by large skylights evoking mollusk shapes.Save this picture!This design nods to Mediterranean traditions, from Roman mosaics to Modernist trencads. The architecture unpretentiously reflects the essence of an economical and sustainable construction. Inside, the dynamic geometry is mirrored in the exposed metal ceiling structures, reminiscent of historic Catalan markets. Natural light is designed to suggest an underwater landscape, creating a pleasant atmosphere that transforms transit into an enjoyable experience.Save this picture!The lightness of a structure can be an indicator of its sustainability. The amount of mass mobilized reflects the use of material and energy resources. In this case, the buildings weight is especially critical due to the limited load-bearing capacity of the artificial dock reclaimed from the sea. A traditionally constructed building could not be anchored in this soil layer due to its weight, requiring piles over 25 meters long to reach the seabed. The lightweight construction allowed for shallow foundationsa more sustainable solution both economically and environmentally. Never has Fullers question to Foster about a buildings weight been more pertinent.Save this picture!Save this picture!This lightness, along with its off-site industrialized construction, contributes to environmental achievements: a 55% reduction in waste, 60% in CO emissions, and 80% in water consumption compared to traditional construction averages. It is easily expandable, dismantlable, relocatable, and recyclable, with an energy rating of "A." Moreover, its execution was completed in record time, minimizing the uneconomical occupation of the dock, disruptions to citizens, and environmental impact.Save this picture!The modular industrialized construction, carried out in Almera, allowed most of the work to be finished in under 10 months, ensuring reliability and quality by avoiding the unpredictability and chaos of traditional construction, which relies on artisanal methods amid a shortage of skilled labor. Ultimately, the building is an adaptive architecture designed to meet todays needs.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on April 06, 2025Cite: "Tarragona Public Passenger Terminal / Hombre de Piedra Arquitectos" [Terminal Pblica de Pasajeros de Tarragona / Hombre de Piedra Arquitectos] 06 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028673/tarragona-public-passenger-terminal-hombre-de-piedra-arquitectos&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream