© Adrià Goula
© Adrià Goula
© Adrià Goula
The coarse-textured outer skin of the lift shaft, which consists of perforated bricks set on edge, immediately betrays the fact that this envelope does not have a load-bearing function. On the contrary, its light, open appearance allows the internal steel structure of the roughly 24-metre-high lift tower to shimmer through. In the evening, when the brick skin is illuminated from inside, the pattern of the perforations is quite distinct. During the day, in contrast, the envelope appears closed and makes a clear reference to the red-brick facades of the industrial buildings on the banks of the River Llobregat.

Here, in the lower part of Gironella, the town has witnessed continuous growth, whereas the historic city on the hill above has become depopulated over the years. In the past, it was accessible from the river solely via a steep, off-putting staircase. The lift now links the old urban centre – with medieval buildings in part – and the tree-lined river promenade in the new town.