NeoFlex, the industry legacy

The lack of cultural programs in the western area of Malaga makes possible to regenerate old industrial elements forgotten in time, giving them a new use and being able to grant them a new identity. The remodeling of the former Flex mattress factory makes possible the regeneration of one of the most vulnerable districts in Malaga.

Focusing now on the strategy used for the transformation of the complex, we can see that because of its morphology, the intervention is divided into two main elements, which are capable of achieving a great synergy and can rehabilitate the environment through its modifications. On the one hand, we find the SQUARE, which emerges as a new open space that tries to incorporate the city into the neighborhood as well as serving as an element of connection between the different buildings. On the other hand, we find the creative polygon which is diversified into 3 elements:\n1. RESIDENCE: it occupies the former residence of workers of the factory. 2. ARTESANAL FACTORY + PARKING that occupies the old textile manufacturing building. 3. CREATION FACTORY that occupies the position of the commercial building.\nThe integration of different disciplines in the same building conditions and the execution of a series of constructive elements provides a functional and programmatic diversity. The reason for the use of a modular system is facilitated by the typological, morphological and aesthetic characteristics and it is solved by generating a functional envelope that frees the interior .\nEach of these elements that make up the adaptation have been called with the term Plug-In, which we can transcribe conceptually as “the adhesion of new constructive elements that modifies the spatial functionality of the adjacent places they are connected to.” To that end, we search the easy placement and removal of that pieces, so that the building can be in constant change.\nIn order to detail these elements, a catalog has been chosen for the formalization. This catalog orders and classifies them, understanding the changes that the building undergoes with the adhesion of these pieces to the old structure. Here we can find a review of the construction elements divided into four design factors established for their architectural design. 1. CONCEPT: communication or wet centers, facilities and enclosures. 2. CHARACTER: Static or Dynamic. 3. TYPOLOGY: Landed, Suspended or Hanging. 4. LOCATION: Flex Factory, Residence or Craft Factory.