OOIIO wraps madrid auto center in permeable skin of metal slats
OOIIO Architecture redesigns Leganés Auto Center in Madrid
Located in an industrial park in Leganés, Madrid, the Leganés Auto Center by OOIIO Architecture transforms a disused factory into a contemporary automotive facility through adaptive reuse, passive environmental strategies, and a new architectural envelope. Rather than demolishing the existing industrial building, the project retains and upgrades its structure, introducing a permeable facade of vertical metal slats that defines the building’s identity while improving solar control, ventilation, and environmental performance. The project was commissioned as a facility for vehicle sales, servicing, and storage, accommodating a large showroom, offices, mechanical and bodywork workshops, and extensive storage for hundreds of vehicles. The program also required continuous vehicle circulation throughout the building, making circulation and logistics central components of the design.
Instead of replacing the abandoned factory previously occupying the site, OOIIO Architecture retained the existing structure and adapted it to the new program. This approach reduces demolition waste while extending the lifespan of the original building. The former kitchen factory has been reconfigured into an automotive center with the showroom and workshops located on the ground floor, offices on the first floor, and vehicle storage occupying the upper levels. To accommodate the new use, the existing structural frame was reinforced to support additional loads, while the original roof was replaced with an extra storage floor protected by photovoltaic pergolas. The solar installation generates electricity for the building while contributing energy to the surrounding area. Large circulation ramps positioned along both sides of the building organize vehicle movement between levels while remaining independent from customer circulation on the ground floor.
all images ©Javier de Paz
Adaptive reuse and passive strategies reshape the industrial site
The redesign by Madrid-based studio OOIIO Architecture also reconsiders the relationship between the building and its surroundings. The original brick facade, which offered limited thermal performance and little visual identity, has been replaced with a new outer envelope that responds to both environmental and functional requirements. Upper vehicle storage levels remain naturally ventilated and unconditioned, concentrating mechanical cooling only where occupied spaces require it. Wrapping the building, a secondary facade of white vertical metal slats mounted on a mint-green steel substructure provides solar shading while allowing natural airflow through the storage floors.
The new envelope also accommodates workshop chimneys, ventilation ducts, and other technical infrastructure within its depth, integrating these elements into the architectural composition rather than concealing them. This strategy frees interior space while reinforcing the building’s industrial character through its exposed technical systems. The varying dimensions and spacing of the vertical slats introduce rhythm and depth across the facade, while simultaneously reducing solar gain and supporting passive cooling during Madrid’s summer months. Their vertical arrangement also recalls the banner-like elements commonly associated with automotive dealerships, giving the building a distinct presence within the surrounding industrial landscape.
The project combines adaptive reuse with passive environmental strategies to reduce operational and embodied impacts. In addition to photovoltaic energy generation, the building incorporates natural cross-ventilation, solar shading, and rainwater harvesting for vehicle washing. Leganés Auto Center demonstrates how industrial architecture can combine functional efficiency, environmental performance, and a clearly defined architectural identity.
