2 Buildings by F. J. Barba Corsini: Building for the Boehringer Sohn Ingelheim, S. A. E. Laboratories, at San Juan Despi, Barcelona; Victoria Cinema, at Hospitalet de Liobregat - Barcelona

Abstract

Building for the Boehringer Sohn Ingelheim, S. A. E. Laboratories, at San Juan Despí – Barcelona The semibasement houses the services, including dressing rooms, dining hall, central air conditioning, stores, and other technical services. The ground floor comprises the main entrance hall and also some of the laboratories, whilst the rest of the building is mostly devoted to the functional purpose of the firm, i. e., laboratory work. The manager's office and council chamber are located on the second floor. The external aspect of the building reflects its function and is an outstanding example of impressive simplicity. Victoria Cinema, at Hospitalet de Llobregat – Barcelona The design of the building takes specifically into account the poor features of the site, the greater cost efficiency of reinforced concrete and the saving in construction time associated with metallic construction. Hence a compound design was adopted. All the external walls are built with unfaced brick, and «Durisol» has been adopted for the ceilings. The choice of illumination and colouring give the walls a fine quality, and emphasize their plastic texture. A restful quality and an indication of its commercial purpose are the fundamental features reflected by the external aspect of the building.