The Beauty of Imperfection
Grand Casino & Tagoba Theater
The Beauty of Imperfection
Grand Casino & Tagoba Theater
Customer
Location
Category
Photograph
Video
Furniture
Vila-real Town Hall
Vila-real, Castellón
David Zarzoso
Cabana Team
Delinquent
Gran Casino and Tagoba Theater:
Project information
In August 2019, comprehensive renovation work began on two historic buildings in Vila-real: the Gran Casino and the Tagoba Theater. Both buildings, acquired by the City Council during the previous legislative term, are being renovated by the architectural firms Cabana (Madrid) and Negrosobreazul (Valencia), with the aim of restoring their heritage value.
Built around 1919, the Gran Casino and the adjoining Tagoba Theater originally formed an integrated complex, which was later modified for various uses, including a club, a bank branch, and a community college.
– Vila-real, Castellón.
Reactivating memory through architecture
About Functionality
The challenge lies in understanding both buildings as a whole and restoring them as a new structure connected to each other and to the city of Vila-real. To achieve this, a new intermediate space has been incorporated to harmonize these two unique architectural structures: the prism of light.
The light prism acts as the "universal connector" between the two buildings, linking all levels of both buildings through a common vertical core that integrates a panoramic elevator and an illuminated staircase.
In this way, visitors are surprised by the appearance of this space, defined mainly by two outstanding features: the prominence of the staircase and the diffused light contained within the prism.
On Materiality
Another key ingredient in the restoration of these buildings is time.
In the "new" Tagoba Theater and the Gran Casino, you can see architectural elements from another era: bare, austere structures that showcase the beauty of the masonry walls and mortar used in the early 20th century.
The original textures have been preserved and enhanced through indirect lighting that updates the patina of the passage of time.
The beauty of the passage of time: wabi-sabi.
wabi-sabi
1. Japanese aesthetic concept describing a type of aesthetic vision based on "the beauty of imperfection."
2. The art of aging.
The final ingredient, which underpins all other decisions, is the recovery and restoration of historical elements. These include the restoration of the Gran Casino's main modernist façade, as well as various interior elements such as historicist fixtures and other unique pieces.
In short, the project represents a decisive step toward reconnecting Vila-real with these iconic buildings, offering an experience of contrasts between the old and the new, between restoration and reinterpretation.
The light prism acts as the "universal connector" between the theater and the casino, incorporating a new entrance from Insa Street.
This central element houses a panoramic elevator and a staircase bathed in light, seamlessly connecting all levels of both buildings.
As the functional heart of the project, this space ensures continuous circulation between the historic structures, reinforcing their unity.
The renovation process embraces the beauty of imperfection, showcasing the exposed brickwork and original mortar from the early 20th century.
A space where history and modernity meet, with restored interior elements that highlight the passage of time through delicate lighting.
The restoration of the Gran Casino's modernist façade, together with its historical details, reconnects Vila-real with its architectural heritage.
La arquitectura revela
el alma del tiempo: unir pasado y presente
transforma la memoria
en experiencia viva
Architecture reveals the soul of time: uniting past and present transforms memory into a living experience