© Héctor Santos-Díez
Viewed from the exterior, the new inner city branch of the University of Vigo appears as a multi-part ensemble. Covered by longitudinal hipped roof structures, it occupies the site of three former residential buildings facing Praza do Berbés, a semi-enclosed urban square in the former fishermen’s quarter along the harbour. The roof, covered in sheet zinc, features a subdivision that refers to the predecessor buildings. Their arcades, typical to the plaza, will be preserved, as well as other masonry wall remnants. The architects rehabilitated the dilapidated and partially rendered natural stone walls and placed a timber structure behind them. It adopts the subdivision of the earlier buildings, yet exceeds them significantly in height.