Sancal unveils a new location in Madrid, a COLAB at O’Donnell 34. Situated somewhere between an office and a showroom, it’s neither one nor the other. It’s a CO-mmunity, a LAB-oratory, designed by Sancal and Lucas Muñoz Muñoz
INTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT
COLAB is the new collaborative project by Sancal and Lucas Muñoz Muñoz. By combining sustainability and design, they have transformed the fourth floor of the historic O’Donnell 34 building into a creative laboratory.
The project encourages circularity through the reuse of materials and the reassembly of elements, creating a dynamic environment that invites the exploration of new methodologies in space renovation.
Restoring, repairing, and redefining a part of the first office building constructed in Spain in 1966, designed by Antonio Lamela—a pioneer of architecture in our country—was a significant responsibility. It was essential to approach the project in a very special way.
CO-MMENCE
Sancal positions itself as a “rare bird” in a rural wine-producing area, demonstrating that it’s possible to innovate and create far from the conventional Spanish design circuits. Aware of the need to connect with the design community in the most active urban centres, the firm decided to reaffirm its presence in Spain’s capital, just as it had done four years ago in Barcelona.
Always faithful to its motto “Break the Mold,” Sancal didn’t want a conventional showroom. Inspired by the shared experience in Barcelona with the communication agency Fuego Camina Conmigo, the company decided to reinvent the exhibition concept in Madrid as well.
Thus, the new location was conceived as a dynamic and collaborative space that would reflect its foundational values of creativity, innovation, and connection with the design community.
This project became the perfect opportunity for a creative mind like Lucas Muñoz Muñoz, with his alternative vision and radical design language.
The objective of the brief was “to create from the existing, transforming everything we didn’t want to use—what theoretically was surplus—into something useful and beautiful.”
For each project, Lucas has generated a unique language, specific to the context and legacy of each space, grounded in the circular, conscious, and highly experimental character that has defined his work since 2006. In this project for Sancal, the challenge was ambitious: to refurbish the space while maintaining and transforming all the materials that wouldn’t be recycled, remaining faithful to Lamela’s legacy, and achieving the goal of not exceeding the per-square-metre cost of a standard refurbishment in Madrid.
This determination, present from the beginning of the work at O’Donnell 34, marks a significant progression for Lucas. It demonstrates that ecological awareness, sustainability-oriented experimentation, and the transformation of a space through craftsmanship, when designed with intention, need not be more expensive than a conventional renovation based on the “old out, new in” cycle. In this project everything remains, transformed by the artistry of Muñoz.
CO-THINK
Innovation through collective thinking. To minimise the environmental impact of construction, the aim was not only to avoid using new materials but also to encourage the involvement and expertise of skilled trades, allowing their craftsmanship to shine.
Managing waste and its transformation within the space posed logistical and organisational challenges, requiring agility in relocating and recycling removed materials.
From the outset, Lucas chose to use models and prototypes rather than renders or mood boards. This decision allowed for a more playful approach to the project, offering greater flexibility and adaptability, and avoiding false expectations. It also fostered a more open narrative throughout the process.
Trust in Lucas’s creativity was essential for the project’s evolution; however, to tackle such intuitive challenges, Lucas always collaborates closely with experts. In this case, Tomás Miranda from Zimenta Construcciones and Joan Vellvé Rafecas, a regular collaborator of the studio, played a crucial role in defining technical solutions and appropriate strategies. Additionally, the workers Marcelino, Wilson, and José Luis, along with the site manager Rafael Abad, made significant contributions both creatively and executively.
Lucas’s approach is to work directly with the workers and recognising them as craftsmen for their experience and dedication, sharing a common passion for manual work.
CO-NSTRUCT
COLAB is a prime example of a project that embodies a strong sensitivity towards making decisions with an awareness of the material passports of each element and their future life, both during and after the space’s use.
The project showcases a transformation strategy committed to social responsibility and minimising environmental footprints.
This is reflected in the way the space is built and elements are created, avoiding superfluous decorative additions and making only the necessary interventions to define the functions required for every corner of the space. Each strategic decision adopted a reductive, rational, and sustainable approach; the result is a space with unique elements emerging from the transformation of found materials through a craft and experimental intervention. Some of the materials have been reshaped or their use re-imanged, while all of the materials that have been transformed into another can be transformed once again in the future.
CO-EXISTENCE
A Harmonious Aesthetic Where Tradition and Modernity CO-exist. In COLAB, the coexistence of past and future is expressed through a harmonious blend of contrasts and material diversity.
Brutalist design merges with elements that were once modern, resulting in a unique aesthetic that combines retro-futurism with contemporary style.
Upon entering the building, one encounters a lobby that remains almost unchanged from the 1960s, complete with elevators that evoke the era of “Mad Men”. This journey through time culminates in an interior space on the fourth floor that resembles a spacecraft, yet also incorporates recovered and reimagined elements suggesting different eras. The neutral material palette and pure textures—resulting from the raw nature of the interventions, visible scars from the wall movements, and repairs to the ceiling—contrast with the sculptural and warm Sancal furniture and the rich textiles. Under the warm glow of the lights, the space takes on a more inviting visual character.
The result is a space of multiple contrasts and an atmosphere that invites imagination.
The combination of the building’s essence, Lucas’s reinterpretations and inventions, and Sancal’s furniture creates a wonderfully intriguing triangle where contrasts in forms, textures, and colours coexist in a unique harmony. Every corner of COLAB reflects the richness of the creative process and the singularity of the project.
CO-AUTHORS
About Lucas Muñoz Muñoz
Designer and artist Lucas Muñoz Muñoz focuses on the functional and material redefinition of everyday objects, spaces, and engineering elements. Based in Madrid, his work is distinguished by its emphasis on sustainability and material reuse, integrating social and cultural aspects into his projects. His notable works include the “Temporal” collection for the Machado Muñoz gallery and the MO restaurant by Movimiento. Lucas approaches design collaboratively, creating pieces that blend art, design, and a deep commitment to the environment.
About Sancal
Sancal is a family-run company and a leading name in contemporary furniture design and manufacturing, known for its innovative approach and commitment to sustainability and creativity. Headquartered in Yecla, Murcia, Sancal has expanded its international presence, collaborating with renowned designers and architects to create unique and functional spaces in the 90 countries where it operates.
Facts & Credits
Project title Sancal – a CO-mmunity and a LAB-oratory
Typology Interior Design, Offices
Location Madrid, Spain
Architecture and interior design Sancal and Lucas Muñoz Muñoz
Photography Asier Rua
Text provided by the architects
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