1994 – El Corte Inglés, Barcelona

El Corte Inglés is a massive department store dominating the Plaça de Catalunya. The original store was mid block and dated from 1962. Torres & Lapeà±an were commissioned to design a new skin for the original store and its extension around the northern corner. In 1991 MBM was commissioned to design a new building to the south of the store. El Corte Inglés bought this building during construction. Barcelona City Council then suggested that the entire development be given a unified treatment. The result is quite remarkable in that the two firms managed to create a unified whole. Both ends of the building have rounded corners. Both corners are treated differently from the other but the use of the same stone and the canopy at ground level unifies the whole building.