Magazine
03/06/2024
Refurbishment and extension of a historic building from 1895 in Plaza de Pontevedra in A Coruña, preserving its original design and maintaining key elements such as the façade, galleries, and zinc roof. The project adds two floors by reusing the original structure and enhances both accessibility and comfort.
The result is spacious residences and modern commercial spaces in a landmark property.
DESARROLLA COMPLETES THE RESTORATION AND EXPANSION OF A HISTORIC BUILDING IN A CORUÑA BY ARCHITECT FAUSTINO DOMÍNGUEZ COMES-GAY
Desarrolla Obras y Servicios has completed the renovation and extension of a historic building in the center of A Coruña. Specifically, it is the one located at Plaza de Pontevedra number 2.The property was designed in 1895 by Faustino Domínguez Coumes-Gay. An architect of particular importance in the urban planning of late 19th-century Galicia.Not only for the visual impact of his projects, with a typological variety characteristic of the period, but also because the passage of time has proven the excellent construction quality of his work.Seagull Real Estate is the developer behind a restoration that has brought all its splendor back to this historic building. A journey into the future that has also made it possible to add two floors, in line with what was done in the adjoining buildings.In fact, the building is part of a group of five properties designed by Coumes-Gay that have been refurbished and extended in recent decades.All of them have seen their buildable height increased at different times.The project by Pernas Varela Arquitectos for Plaza de Pontevedra 2 has been extremely respectful of the original design.
Contributing to this was the fact that the building’s state of preservation was “very good.” In fact, the original façade of the property has been retained—striking for its granite finish and white-painted wooden galleries, which also preserve the beautiful original zinc roof.The extension of the historic building over two additional floors involved a remarkable intervention that bears the hallmark of Desarrolla. To prevent the loss of the building’s timber roof, it was carefully dismantled, reused, and repositioned at the new corresponding level.In other words, two storeys higher. This was achieved using the same construction system for the connections between the roof elements, while preserving the original envelope. An ambitious undertaking made possible by the fact that the entire roof was in perfect condition and by the technical expertise of the Desarrolla and Pernas Varela Arquitectos teams.
As for the building as a whole, the property comprises four residences of more than 140 square meters and a fifth that is slightly smaller. A 180-square-meter ground-floor commercial unit and another 150-square-meter space on the first floor complete the surface layout of the historic building.The brief has been completed with the construction of an elevator and accessibility improvements on every floor. A modernization that ensures total comfort.At the same time, the renewal of systems has gone hand in hand with the preservation of features such as the original staircase and entrance hall. These are elements that must be protected, as established by the PEPRI and the ruling of the Advisory Commission.A carefully conceived and structured project to restore all the splendor of this iconic historic building.Visit us at our headquarters.
