![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-3.jpg)
Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by CrystalZoo
Spanish studio CrystalZoo have renovated this former school in Novelda, Spain, to create a youth centre for the area.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-14.jpg)
Top photograph is by David Frutos
Called Casal de la Juventud de Novelda, the upper part of the building has been wrapped with a skin of polycarbonate panels, causing it to overhang the lower part.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-4.jpg)
The architects have created a new plaza at the entrance of the building, featuring little grassy mounds and a zig-zag pattern on the paving that creeps up onto the wall of the centre.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-5.jpg)
The windows are slightly recessed in the façade and highlighted in bright colours.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-8.jpg)
Photographs are by Rafael Galán unless otherwise stated.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-91.jpg)
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![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-71.jpg)
Above photograph is by David Frutos
The following information is from the architects:
Casal de la Juventud de Novelda
This building is placed in Novelda, a small town near Alicante (Spain).
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-10.jpg)
It consists in a renovation of an old school building ant its yard to allow new public uses.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-11.jpg)
This proposal is a work about the reuse of old buildings and their adaptation to contemporary needs.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-6.jpg)
In this sense the Casal de la Juventud reinvents itself and establishes a dialogue between each stage of its evolution.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-13.jpg)
Above photograph is by David Frutos
Life opens up, in this case, creating a new wrapper able to equip the building and the plaza with new technologies and services.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-12.jpg)
Above photograph is by David Frutos
The plaza is raised as a hub of social activity in Novelda.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-50.jpg)
Above: existing building
This system consists in connecting paths that also define soft areas that can adapt and establish links with what is happening inside the building.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-15.gif)
Click for larger image
Working with an old school offers the opportunity to have the yard, which is a valuable open space within the dense urban fabric.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-16.gif)
Click for larger image
This courtyard is a place that complements and makes possible the use of this new building.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-17.gif)
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Materiality and lighting are the way this proposal establishes new links and relationships between the building and the public space.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-18.gif)
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We try to provide complete and sophisticated equipment to this building and its plaza, through the installation of a new structure that surrounds the old school, with its own program, and also the support for the new activities.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-19.gif)
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This structure provides lighting, energy and information systems, that define the specific environments for all the different situations that may happen.
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-20.gif)
Click for larger image
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-21.gif)
Click for larger image
![Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo Casal de la Juventud de Novelda by Crystalzoo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Casal-de-la-Juventud-de-Novelda-by-Crystalzoo-22.gif)
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See also:
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Seu University of La Nucia by CrystalZoo | Educational Centre by Alejandro Muñoz Miranda | Residential extension by dB_dubail begert architectes |