Casa de la Juventud in Alcalá de Guadaíra by Retuerto Arquitectos and dunar arquitectos

Retuerto Arquitectos and dunar arquitectos have completed the Casa de la Juventud in Alcalá de Guadaíra, Spain, transforming the site of a former market into a youth center integrated with public space. The project uses the steep slope of the plot to create three interconnected platforms at elevations ±0.00 m, −4.20 m, and −7.90 m. The upper platform is a garden plaza that also serves as the building's roof, making the structure partially invisible from above. At −4.20 m, the main interior spaces feature large operable glass walls that open onto a second plaza, allowing indoor activities to spill outside. The lowest level houses parking, minimizing visual impact. Ramps, stairs, and elevators link the levels, creating a continuous public route. The building's geometry curves and retracts to avoid large walls and to respond to surrounding conditions. Materials include textured reinforced concrete, vertical gardens, large glass facades, and microperforated corrugated metal screens for light and privacy control. The 2,865.97 m² facility includes a multipurpose hall, music and theater classrooms, a computer lab, and a cafeteria. The total usable area, including plazas, reaches nearly 3,000 m². The project was promoted by the Alcalá de Guadaíra city council, with a budget of €3,280,330.65. Photography is by RN Fotógrafos / Nicolás Yazigi.