Gastronomy Open Ecosystem (Spain)

A dynamic architectural project by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, the Gastronomy Open Ecosystem, or GOe is a new international hub for food, innovation, and community, and an exciting new addition to the Basque Culinary Center in Donostia-San Sebastián. The project incorporated a selection of Roca solutions and bathroom collections that complemented the design and the demands of a busy, mixed-use space.

GOe is conceived as an open laboratory for knowledge, where researchers, chefs, entrepreneurs, students, companies, and citizens can come together to rethink the future of food from a cross-disciplinary perspective. The building encourages and invites this spirit of collaboration thanks to its unique design by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, which was based around an essential idea: to explore gastronomy as a form of learning, innovation and connection. The bathrooms were conceived as a natural extension of the architectural vision. Their design, featuring Roca’s solutions and select products, reflects the same technical precision, functionality, and pursuit of harmony that define GOe.

The distinctive multi-level structure features a large central staircase that serves as a point of connection between working spaces, experimentation, and social spaces.

Situated on a sloping terrain between the Cantabrian Sea and Mount Ulia, the building is made with materials such as Corten steel, glass, and wood that are meant to engage with nature and reflect the passage of time. The accessible green roof will adapt and change with the seasons and has various spaces for sitting and gathering.

BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group turned to Roca as a partner in ensuring that the bathroom spaces applied the same spirit of innovation and sustainability that is found throughout the building. The bathroom design, which features resin surfaces in bold red tones across the floors, walls and ceilings, are complemented by Roca’s Modo Dash washbasins, custom-made in white and black. These unique long pieces reinforce a sense of spatial continuity and contemporary appeal.

The Gap wall-mounted washbasins and various types of Loft E self-closing faucets and Victoria Pro faucets, designed to optimize water use and ensure maximum comfort in high-traffic areas, cohere with the energy efficiency of the building. The Ona wall-hung toilets, in matte white and black finishes, and The Gap toilets in comfort versions, enhance the style and accessibility of the bathroom space. Access basins provide comfort and security for those with mobility challenges.

In the rooftop restaurant, the design features black surfaces and metallic finishes, a more sophisticated atmosphere, where Roca’s black-finish faucets and accessories add a touch of distinction and coherence with the visual language of the high-end space.

GOe aims to become an international benchmark in gastronomic architecture and a model of urban sustainability. Roca’s contribution to the bathroom spaces helped further the goal of establishing a place where architecture, gastronomy and community come together to inspire new ways of creating, living, and enjoying the future.