The CRAI—Center for Learning and Research Resources—at the Faculty of Medicine on the Clinical Campus is the primary academic library for health sciences students and research staff at the University of Barcelona. With more than 100,000 users annually, it is one of the most heavily used facilities on campus. The institution is part of the UB library network and operates under the quality standards of the Catalan public university system. For most users, the entrance is their first physical point of contact with the library’s services.

The Commission– the project arose from the need to redesign an entrance that had ceased to function—both functionally and visually. The commission involves the comprehensive redesign of the CRAI’s entrance area, with four simultaneous lines of work: Space—Redesign of the entrance floor plan—zoning, circulation, and accessibility. Furniture—Design and selection of the new reception desk. Signage—Wayfinding system and visual identity applied to the space. Identity—Application of the CRAI–UB brand across the space’s elements. Materials—Selection of finishes, flooring, and lighting solutions.

The project does not start from scratch. It begins with the orginal space, with its structural limitations, budget, regulations, and staff. The design responds to these conditions; it does not ignore them.

Design Intent– A single principle defines the criterion that guides all project decisions: The space should communicate before anyone has to explain it. This means: a clear visual hierarchy, an identity that is evident from the moment one enters, a clear circulation path without the need for additional signage, and furniture that organizes the space rather than occupying it.