The fourth floor of Madrid’s iconic O’Donnell 34 building, originally built by Antonio Lamela in 1966, has been transformed by Lucas Muñoz Muñoz into CoLab – a creative office and showroom shared by design manufacturer Sancal and communications agency Fuego Camina Conmigo. 

Key features 

Void of superfluous decoration, Lucas Muñoz Muñoz’s purposeful renovation of the office space commandeers site-specific, circular design strategies. Emphasizing sustainability and affordability, the renovation brief challenged the designer to ‘create from the existing’ and repurpose surplus materials while minimizing refurbishment costs. 

Favouring experimentation over traditional methods, the studio utilized prototypes and models to test ideas within the parameters of this challenging brief, from which an innovative spatial layout was derived. A central meeting room framed by existing columns delineates the diagonal layout, creating angled rhomboid spaces which align with the windows to maximize natural light. This design breaks from traditional rectangular office layouts, establishing a circular route through the showroom and into workspace areas, as well as the kitchen and toilet. A system of textile panels not only facilitates flexible partitioning but also improves acoustics and helps control natural light, enhancing the space's adaptability and functionality. 

Greeted by a smorgasbord of design eras and material eclecticism, visitors to the CoLab office are instantly made aware of the space's layered history. Through experimentation and skilled craftsmanship, new elements emerged out of the old; floor panels metamorphosed into wall cladding, while plastic-coated ceiling tiles were salvaged and reassembled to form the entrance wall, recirculating 360 sq-m of non-recyclable material. The process of dismantling the old offices unearthed multiple surprises, including original terrazzo floor tiles with brass joints. Lightbulbs from the previous office were also refashioned into wall sconces and modular lighting fixtures by students from the Asociación Norte Joven. Sancal’s furniture and textiles, integral to the design, infuse warmth into the space under the soft glow of the repurposed lights. 

FRAME’s take 

Lucas Muñoz Muñoz’ renovation of O'Donnell 34’s fourth floor highlights the potential of site-specific material reuse as a design innovation strategy. While using materials from the pre-existing site may seem restrictive, the design showcases how this approach can actually enhance a space’s character and open up myriad opportunities for affordable and innovative design solutions. The transformation retains Antonio Lamela’s architectural vision, combining functionality with a striking retro-futuristic aesthetic, while clever design features like the moveable partitions facilitate a dynamic and adaptable environment. Reflecting a forward-thinking strategy for hyperlocal refurbishments, this transformation affirms that sustainability-oriented design need not come at a higher cost. By involving students from Asociación Norte Joven and other specialized partners, the project also promotes the importance of social engagement and craftsmanship in an increasingly digital age.