Madrid-based architecture firm Alberto Campo Baeza has designed an office block with walls made entirely of glass, for the Advisory Council of Castilla and Leon government in the Spanish city of Zamora.
In a historic city known for its Romanesque-style churches and high city walls, the contemporary ‘Zamora Offices’ are a stark departure from the medieval architecture that surrounds them. Two irregularly shaped courtyards have been positioned on either side of the two-story glass building, with views of trees and blue skies accessible from desks and meeting rooms.
Its architectural composition means that indoor and outdoor spaces merge into one. It’s “as if [the offices are] entirely made of air,” state the architects. A colossal sandstone perimeter wall was erected to protect the exterior of the site. This wall matches exactly the exterior of the nearby Romanesque cathedral, keeping in mind the city's walled enclosure tradition. Zamora Offices is an interesting example of essentialist architecture due to its uncluttered design within the context of its historical setting.
