Pritzker Laureates RCR Arquitectes Turn a Forgotten Mill into a Masterclass in Light, Stone And Water

Upon emerging from the tree-lined pathway, El Pavelló de l’Estany reveals itself as a structure in constant motion.

Located in the historic enclave of Llagostera on Spain’s ruggedly beautiful Costa Brava, the steeland-glass pavilion reflects everything around it: water, sky, forest, and the distant peaks of the Pyrenees. Its facade, composed of textured steel sheets, shifts constantly, at times dissolving into the landscape, at others asserting its own sculptural presence.

The effect is deliberate, an homage to the original pond that once defined this topography. While water once powered the nearby historic mill, it now animates the architecture itself, becoming the medium through which the site’s surrounding nature is captured in light, reflection, and form.

The Art of Contrast

Just a stone’s throw away lies the project’s grounding anchor: El Molí Gotarra. This restored 19th-century mill stands in juxtaposition to its shimmering sibling. Here, the vernacular language of heavy, centuries-old masonry creates a tactile counterpoint to the pavilion’s ethereal transparency.

Together, these structures form El Molí de l’Estany, a sprawling 5,000-square-metre estate surrounded by rolling hills, cultivated fields, and forests. It has evolved into a sanctuary for events, retreats, and a backdrop for global fashion and cinematic productions.