The senses, as David Hume so keenly observed, are the sole inlets to our understanding. We perceive, we associate, we form habits of expectation. Thus, when we encounter OOIIO Architecture’s Warehouse Apartments in Madrid, we are not merely observing brick and steel, but a narrative of transformation woven through the very fabric of the building.
Once, this structure stood as a testament to the industrial rhythms of a working-class district. It was a grey, utilitarian space, a cog in the machine of commerce. The Manzanares River flowed nearby, but the dominant impression was one of asphalt and industry, a world of pipes and structures, of function over form. This, we may say, was the “constant conjunction” of the place, the predictable sensory experience that formed its identity.
But the city, like the human mind, is subject to change. The asphalt was replaced by green, the industrial hum by the murmur of families. This transformation, a deliberate act of urban planning, altered the very “impressions” that defined the neighbourhood. The vacant warehouse, once a familiar part of the industrial landscape, became an anomaly, a relic of a bygone era.
OOIIO Architecture, in their wisdom, did not seek to erase this history, but to reinterpret it. They recognized that the building’s identity, its “idea,” was rooted in its past. To obliterate the original pipes and structures would be to deny the very “impressions” that gave the space its character. Instead, they embraced these elements, painting them a vibrant yellow, a striking contrast against the new palette of blues, greens, and oranges. This act is not merely decorative; it is a recognition of the building’s “customary transition,” a visual reminder of its former life.
The apartments themselves are a study in efficient design, prioritizing light and comfort. They are built with wood, reddish brick, and glazed ceramics, materials that evoke a sense of warmth and modernity. From the windows, residents gaze upon the verdant landscape, a stark contrast to the industrial vistas of the past. This sensory experience, this “impression,” reinforces the narrative of transformation.
Hume would remind us that our understanding of causality is based on habit. We expect the sun to rise, the seasons to change, because we have consistently observed these events. Similarly, the transformation of this warehouse, from industrial space to vibrant residential complex, is a testament to the power of habit to shape our perceptions. The residents, accustomed to the vibrant colors and natural light, will inevitably associate these “impressions” with their home, forming new habits of expectation.
The Warehouse Apartments, therefore, are not merely a collection of dwellings, but a tangible manifestation of urban renewal. They represent a shift in the “constant conjunction” of the neighbourhood, a transformation from industrial grey to vibrant life. The yellow pipes, like a philosophical argument, remind us that the past is not erased, but integrated into the present, shaping our perceptions and expectations. It is a testament to the power of design to not only create spaces, but to shape the very “impressions” that define our experience of the world.