Las Cigarreras Industrial Complex

WINNING PROJECT

WINNING PROJECT

Alicante (Spain)

Under construction

24.000 m²

The project proposes the creation of a technological and cultural hub that will restore and reactivate this early twentieth-century industrial complex. The intervention seeks both to recover its architectural value and to position it as a catalyst for urban regeneration in Alicante, preserving the site's historical identity while preparing it for new economic, educational, cultural, and social uses.

A key feature of the proposal is the opening of the urban block to the public. Rather than remaining a closed and almost hermetic enclave that fragments the city, Las Cigarreras is reimagined as a connective element between the neighbourhoods of San Antón and Carolinas Bajas.

To support this opening, the wall enclosing the complex along the two squares is partially demolished. Its historical presence is preserved in an abstract way through the retention of selected fragments, which are repurposed as seating elements, while new openings are created at strategic points of connection.

Urban Proposal and Use Plan

Developed in four phases, the intervention aims to establish a technological and cultural hub that will drive urban regeneration in the surrounding area. The project is intended both to attract new technology-based businesses to Alicante and to provide social and cultural uses that enhance the quality of life of local residents.

Within this framework, spaces such as Casa Misericordia are introduced to support entrepreneurship, innovation, and research and development. In doing so, the project seeks to boost employment while also helping to redistribute business activity beyond the city centre.

From a cultural and tourism perspective, the proposal aims to establish Las Cigarreras as a major landmark in Alicante through the creation of a route linking its principal heritage assets by means of green spaces and pedestrian paths.

From a social perspective, the proposal includes the creation of open public meeting spaces connected through landscaped areas. Within the Cigarreras buildings, spaces are designed to accommodate a wide range of cultural initiatives, including educational and exhibition activities, as well as public events. The goal is to consolidate Las Cigarreras as a shared civic space for the city and its residents.

Casa Misericordia

The first phase focuses on the oldest building complex, Casa Misericordia, together with its immediate outdoor areas. The building comprises more than 6,000 m² distributed across three storeys, with several volumes arranged around two cloisters and a rear courtyard. These spaces are intended to house creative and technological workspaces, coworking areas, social facilities, a library, exhibition spaces, a multipurpose hall, and tourism offices.

The intervention preserves the building's spatial quality and material character in order to evoke its original atmosphere. Vegetation is used as an abstract reference to tobacco, while the steel structure of the large pergolas that organise the urban layout serves as a sculptural expression of the same concept.

In addition to linking the complex with its surroundings, these elements help to organise and distinguish the various uses accommodated within a large site. The pergolas transform the former esplanade into a cool and verdant garden that attracts both residents and visitors. At the same time, they structure the outdoor areas and extend the landscaped character of the site throughout the complex.

Finally, an internal public passage is introduced, allowing the complex to be crossed through the interior of the building. This gallery reuses a corridor that historically served to connect the buildings internally.

The later phases include the development and refurbishment of the remaining Las Cigarreras buildings for educational and socio-cultural purposes, including the intervention in the former factory drying shed, which will be fitted with a green roof.

Estrategia de Desarrollo Urbano Sostenible Integrado (EDUSI)

The project forms part of Alicante's Estrategia de Desarrollo Urbano Sostenible Integrado (EDUSI), "Área Cigarreras", prepared by Alicante City Council. Its objective is the recovery and revitalisation of an important urban area that includes four historic neighbourhoods and two of the city's most emblematic hills, crowned by two castles and characterised by extensive green spaces. The former Las Cigarreras tobacco factory is a particularly significant element of Alicante's cultural heritage and historical memory.