OOIIO wraps Madrid car centre in slatted metal facade

In an industrial park on the outskirts of Madrid, a typology defined by repetition and efficiency is quietly reworked into something more deliberate. Commissioned by a private client, this automotive facility by OOIIO resists the neutrality typical of its surroundings, proposing instead a building that operates with the precision of infrastructure while projecting a distinct architectural identity. The project reframes a familiar question within contemporary practice: how can industrial architecture move beyond performance to also engage perception.

Rather than clearing the site, the architects chose to retain the existing structure, a disused kitchen factory that had long stood dormant. This decision anchors the project in a logic of continuity, where construction begins not from zero but from what already exists. The transformation extends the life of the building while significantly reducing material waste, repositioning it as a contemporary centre for car sales, repair and storage.

The programme is distributed with clarity. The ground level accommodates the showroom and workshops, where activity is most intense and human presence most constant. Above, successive levels are dedicated to vehicle storage, supported by a reinforced structure capable of handling increased loads. A new upper layer, shaded by photovoltaic pergolas, completes the vertical extension while contributing energy back to the building and its surroundings.

Movement is central to the project’s logic. Vehicles circulate through large ramps that run along both sides of the building, establishing a continuous flow that operates independently from pedestrian paths below. This separation allows the ground floor to function as both workspace and customer interface without interruption. Offices are positioned on the first floor, overlooking the operational layers while remaining spatially distinct.

The building is conceived, in line with the observation of Le Corbusier, as a machine in which each element must perform with precision. Yet here, performance is not limited to efficiency. It extends to how the building communicates its role and engages those who encounter it.

The original brick façade offered little insulation and minimal presence. Its replacement is both technical and expressive. A continuous layer of white metal slats, mounted on a mint green structure, wraps the perimeter. This system incorporates ventilation ducts and chimneys from the workshops, exposing rather than concealing the building’s mechanical processes.

The façade operates as a passive environmental device. It filters sunlight, reducing thermal gain, while enabling cross ventilation through the upper storage levels. These areas remain unconditioned, relying instead on natural airflow to maintain acceptable temperatures even during Madrid’s hottest periods. Energy consumption is therefore concentrated on the ground floor, where it is most needed.

The vertical rhythm of the slats gives the building a recognisable presence within the industrial landscape. It recalls the visual language of automotive display, while functioning as a climatic mediator rather than a purely graphic gesture.

Beyond its immediate function, the project suggests a broader shift in how industrial buildings can be conceived. It combines adaptive reuse, passive environmental strategies, and energy production with a clear architectural language that refuses anonymity. Rainwater is collected and reused for car washing, reinforcing a closed loop approach to resource management.

What emerges is not an exception in terms of programme, but in terms of intention. The building demonstrates that even the most utilitarian typologies can accommodate both efficiency and expression. It operates as infrastructure, yet avoids becoming invisible.

Another model for industrial architecture begins here.

Project Credit

Project name: Leganés Auto Center
Architecture: OOIIO Architecture / @ooiio.architecture
Location: Leganés, Madrid, Spain
Completion year: 2025
Photo: Javier de Paz / @javierdepazgarcia