Designed by Aïe Architectes for the Bohemian Hostel for Backpackers Competition in Barcelona, the Trekking Tower reveals itself through a fascinating walk and allows the public to discover their environment – the city. The 100 meter high structure accommodates various facilities, ranging from the intimate hostel’s housing capacities to public open spaces-camping gardens. It is an urban hiking trail which starts in a city center environment with a bar, boutique and outdoor activities at its base. The trail swindles up along planted platforms (urban camping) and materialized accommodation (hostel program) to discover public spaces with view over the city.

The BHB (Bohemian Hostel Barcelona) project proposes a new way of experiencing the relationship between city and architecture. The project offers low cost housing, drowned in a vertical garden, and a hiking trail in order to re-discover the existing urban environment. The tower’s youthful playfulness of appearance is achieved by a non-uniform treatment of the structure. Different activities are offered along the tower’s height, also creating different levels of porosity and transparence. According to the authors’ statement – the project is to be perceived as a prolongation of the city, not an architectural object nor as a simple vertical dead-end. The BHB project  proposes an alternative way of living for all bohemian nomads, pushing the boundaries of penetrable city space.

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