A newly released short film titled "To think conventionally at La Fábrica would be impossible" provides an intimate look inside one of architecture's most extraordinary creative spaces. Directed by Albert Moya, a filmmaker recognized for his architectural video portraits, the documentary captures La Fábrica—a former cement factory that now serves as the bustling headquarters for the Spanish architecture firm Bofill Taller de Arquitectura. The film's title reflects the unique ethos of working within a structure that defies traditional office design, where the weight of industrial history and the pulse of contemporary practice exist in constant dialogue. Through a skillful blend of archival materials and present-day footage, Moya reveals how this transformed factory operates not as a museum piece but as a living, breathing workshop where architectural innovation unfolds daily.
The film opens with haunting archival photographs that document La Fábrica's original condition before its remarkable transformation. These images reveal an abandoned industrial complex in a state of profound decay, where massive concrete silos, rusted conveyors, and crumbling load-bearing walls stand as remnants of a bygone manufacturing era. Nature had begun to reclaim the structure, with dense vegetation pushing through cracks and openings—trees emerging from the factory floor and large plants taking root in the building's cavities. Intercut with these photographs are original hand-drafted architectural drawings from Bofill Taller de Arquitectura's archives. Elevations, axonometric views, and detailed construction documents flash across the screen, their precise graphite lines and technical annotations revealing the meticulous planning behind the building's conversion. These drawings function as both historical records and evidence of the visionary thinking required to reimagine such a monumental industrial shell into a functional workspace.
Moya's contemporary footage reveals La Fábrica as it stands today—a masterwork of adaptive reuse where the raw character of the original factory remains tangible. The camera glides through soaring interior volumes and exterior courtyards, where imposing concrete walls, dramatic staircases, and intentional voids define the spatial experience. Light penetrates through large, irregular openings, creating dynamic patterns that highlight the substantial thickness of the walls and the layered construction of the former industrial facility. The building's rugged materiality—weathered concrete, exposed structural elements, and rough textures—serves as a constant reminder of its origins while providing an inspiring backdrop for creative work. Every corner of the complex demonstrates how the original factory's layout and proportions have been thoughtfully preserved and repurposed, maintaining the industrial scale while accommodating the needs of a modern architecture studio.
The heart of the documentary focuses on the daily rhythms of the architects who call La Fábrica home. Present-day sequences show design teams gathered around expansive work tables, reviewing project drawings pinned to towering walls, and working at computer stations nestled within the monumental concrete interiors. The film captures the seamless integration of traditional and cutting-edge tools: screens display complex three-dimensional models and augmented reality applications, while nearby, craftsmen assemble physical scale models by hand. Large work surfaces, extensive shelving systems, and dedicated model-making areas are positioned directly within the former industrial volumes, their placement guided by the original factory's layout. This juxtaposition of analog and digital methods illustrates how the studio honors architectural tradition while embracing technological innovation, all within a space that itself embodies transformation.
Throughout the documentary, La Fábrica emerges as more than just a physical setting—it becomes an active participant in the creative process. The coexistence of archival imagery, hand-drawn sketches, and state-of-the-art digital tools situates the building as a site where different time periods come together. Past construction and present practice share the same ground, observed through materials, spaces, and ongoing use. The film suggests that the building's unconventional character directly influences the architects' approach to design, making conventional thinking indeed impossible. The very act of working within transformed silos and production halls encourages a design philosophy that sees potential in the existing, embraces complexity, and finds beauty in the intersection of industrial heritage and contemporary vision. Moya's portrait reveals how physical environment shapes intellectual approach, making La Fábrica both a workplace and a teaching tool.
Ultimately, "To think conventionally at La Fábrica would be impossible" succeeds as both documentation and meditation on the power of adaptive reuse. The film demonstrates how architectural heritage can be preserved not through being frozen in time but through continued, creative occupation. By showing the building as a dynamic workspace rather than a static monument, Moya captures the essence of Bofill Taller de Arquitectura's vision: that the most sustainable and inspiring architecture often comes from reimagining what already exists. The documentary stands as a testament to how industrial ruins can be transformed into catalysts for creativity, offering a model for how we might approach heritage preservation and workspace design in the twenty-first century. Through this intimate portrait, viewers gain not only an appreciation for a remarkable building but also insight into how architecture itself can be a continuous, evolving practice.
