Back in 1973 Ricardo Bofill came across an old dilapidated building that he fell in love with. It was an old cement factory that was used back in the WWI days but had been long abandoned and was falling apart. Bofill loved it so much that he bought it and got to work on transforming the massive building. He calls in La fábrica and nearly forty five years later it is still a work in progress. It’s located near Barcelona and Bofill has turned it into a beautiful home along with a great work place, and he’s not finished yet. As a matter of fact, he may never be finished. He and his team work on one section of the facility at a time. They come up with a unique design for each room so that no two rooms look alike. Not even close to it. Everything that is done is completely unique from what has already been done in the now beautiful former factory. Bofill has used his architectural background to oversee the entire project and the new designs they come up with for each area can be directly tied to his lifestyle. Over that amount of time people change their ways and their thoughts and this leads to a beautiful, and completely unique, design for each section of the giant place. It’s so big that the final completion may not ever arrive. Look at the beautiful photos of this once abandoned facility.Ricardo Boliff found this WWI cement factory and fell in love with it. He bought it in 1973 and got to work.
Located near Barcelona, Boliff began a renovation that continues today. He turned it into his new home.
One room at a time his team turns the giant space into a modern living space. It has taken lots of rebuilding, but the results are amazing.
The outside was once covered with brush that gave it a run down, abandoned look. That has all been replaced with new greenery that looks more alive.
There aren’t many people in the world who can say they live in an old factory. Even fewer of those that can can boast these kinds of views.
Bofill has a website where he talks about this lifetime project. He said, “The Cement Factory is a place of work par excellence.”
Every single room has it’s own unique design. This makes no two rooms the same.
It has everything that is ever needed to live. Bofill said he has a specific vision for it, “I have the impression of living… in a closed universe which protects me from the outside and everyday life.”
Why not have one place that has everything needed? Bofill continued on with his vision when he said “Life goes on here in a continuous sequence, with very little difference between work and leisure.”
All over the property there are beautiful relaxation areas. They are both indoors and outdoors.
Bofill’s construction team works right there in the house. This studio is where all of the new room designs are created.
Wrigley Field is a beautiful sight in the summer with it’s ivy covered outfield walls. Bofill’s place however, is covered with mostly grass, eucalyptus, palm, and olive trees. It’s a beautiful sight for sure.
Bofill said the outer growth gives the property a “mysterious aspect of romantic ruin that makes it unique and unrepeatable.” One look and you can’t disagree with him.
Even a gigantic home needs a focal point for the family to meet up. Bofill said that “The kitchen-dining room located in the ground floor is the meeting point for the family.”
Since each area is uniquely designed it’s like a different era wherever you go. Bofill said it’s a constant evolution that is par with his own creative visions and lifestyle.
La fábrica will always be under renovation. You can visit it many times and see something new every visit.
It just goes to show you that with the right mind, anything is possible. What one person sees as ruined another person can see as beauty.
Even though it looks much different, and much better, than it once did, there is still plenty of work to be done. It’s a true work in progress!
