How to design a building that stands out yet melds seamlessly with its context? This was precisely the challenge Zaragoza firm Pemán y Franco Arquitectos faced in creating the Illueca Health Centre. Located in a developing area of the once-tiny Spanish town, the primary care facility sits on an almost 1,400-square-metre plot of land and will service 11 nearby communities. “Until a few years ago, Illueca was an agricultural town. Its industrialization began with manufacturing footwear, which became the economic engine of the area,” explains co-founder and architect Luis Franco Lahoz. “As the town grew, it needed to absorb the increase in population that industrial development would bring.”

As one of the only buildings in the planned urban development to be completed thus far, the health centre — which has a premium street frontage — had to make a strong impression. But the recent economic downturn and ensuing construction delays put the region’s growth on pause. Therefore, the design needed to hold its own until the surrounding five-storey residential structures were built and be versatile enough to contribute to a cohesive whole. The answer: a building envelope that offers two facades in one.

To that end, the architects sourced an innovative ventilated ceramic facade by Spanish brand Faveker. Combining flat and volumetric extruded tiles from the GA 16 collection mounted onto a metal support substructure, the lightweight system features horizontal joints that allow the tiles to overlap in a tongue-and-groove formation, keeping the air chamber watertight and improving the building’s longevity. With its high-performance thermal properties — especially important in Illueca, which experiences large temperature swings throughout the year — the envelope reduces energy consumption by up to 40 per cent. The tiles themselves include up to 46 per cent recycled content, and at the end of its life, the system can be dismantled and recycled once again.

A titanium-effect glaze gives the porcelain tile an ever-shifting expression dependent on weather conditions, angle of approach and time of day, contrasting with the crisp white composite window frames.

The exterior’s stark white window frames jut out slightly, lending its clean-lined profile a dynamic three-dimensional quality. Made of a composite material with an enforced thermostable resin skin and a high-density insulation core, the casings (single units that include the lintel, jambs and sills) eliminate thermal bridges by reducing the need for joints.

But the facade boasts more than just impressive performance. Each tile is finished with a stunning metallic effect that evokes the titanium used to make
it — and creates a striking optical illusion (the architects carried out multiple colour and finish tests before landing on the textured treatment). In the sunlight, the ceramic facade gleams in shades of vibrant turquoise, while on overcast days, it transforms into a matte charcoal monolith that recedes into the existing brick-clad residences that surround it. “The selected surface finish also aims to establish a bridge between local tradition and contemporary modern expression,” explains Franco Lahoz. “It was about finding a finish that would evoke the uniqueness typical of a public facility while integrating into an environment dominated by traditional brick.” While the ceramic material nods to Spain’s vernacular design techniques, Pemán y Franco’s interpretation is anything but traditional.