SILOS, Reused Machine-Buildings: A Proposal for Its Transformation

Abstract

Second half of the 20th century: The Spanish rural landscape changes with the imposing profile of Silos. In the urban edge, next to the railroad, they are risen competing in height with church steeples. Today they are inseparable elements of the image of many peoples of cereal geography of any region of Spain. They are consequence of the autarkic economy of that time (storage of grain and state control over distribution and price) Silos were the answer given by the engineering efficiency and economy of means: A type of store operated by screw-conveyor moved with electricity, transport grain to fill high slender square plant cells. Hydraulic push offset between cells that form a matrix-walled plates constructed of thin sheets of brick or concrete block, armed only horizontally. And huge vertical loads carried by thick foundation reinforced concrete pillars. The political regime change and the energy crisis of the late seventies caused these magnificent building-machines stopped being used. Its radical specialization led them to death. After years of neglect and transfer of ownership between administrations, a consciousness has emerged in Spain (National Plan of Industrial Heritage, 2000) that has prevented its demolition, and recognize the values they bring to the landscape and structural-construction of its own, as beautiful works of Engineering which are worth cataloguing / protection. Hence this proposal tries to intervene these giants through new uses, transforming, allowing their conservation. This process investigates various structural types and implements strict standards of construction resolved with efficient construction solutions. The result is returned to society by publishing their work, while stressing heritage values, demonstrates the new strength of these local systems.