Situated on the edge of Barcelona’s historic waterfront, this project is an adaptive reuse of the former Casa de la Marina, transforming an underutilised waterfront building into a live–work–research environment for startups, makers, and material innovators. Inspired by Barceloneta’s industrial and maritime heritage, the project reintroduces cultures of production and experimentation to the district through a hybrid programme that combines living, working, and research.

The proposal brings together residential units, co-working spaces, workshops, robotics and prototyping laboratories, exhibition areas, and communal amenities within a single vertical community, creating an ecosystem in which innovation and knowledge exchange are part of everyday life.

A glulam exoskeleton wraps the existing structure, extending its capacity while establishing a new architectural identity rooted in sustainable timber construction. Acting as a structural, shading, and social infrastructure, it supports terraces and shared spaces that connect occupants to the city and waterfront. The project preserves the legacy of Casa de la Marina while proposing a contemporary model for productive urban living.