Gridhaus

Gridhaus

Description

The starting point of the project is the study of the contemporary publishing industry and the role of editorial spaces within current cultural production. Unlike traditional publishing houses, which often operate from corporate office environments, many contemporary literary initiatives seek to establish a closer relationship between writers, editors and readers, transforming the publishing process into a more visible and participatory activity. The proposal focuses on NdeNovela, a publishing imprint belonging to Grupo Planeta. Created to support emerging voices and contemporary fiction, the imprint specialises in emotionally driven narratives, including thriller, suspense and romance. Its editorial strategy is based on discovering new authors and accompanying them throughout the publishing process, from manuscript development to public presentation. Despite being part of one of Spain's largest publishing groups, NdeNovela does not currently occupy an independent headquarters. Editorial activities take place within the corporate offices of Grupo Planeta, limiting the possibility of creating a distinct identity or establishing a direct relationship with its audience. This condition generates the opportunity to imagine a dedicated space capable of embodying the values of the imprint through architecture. Research was also conducted into the publishing process itself. A book is not understood solely as a final object but as the result of a sequence of stages involving writing, editing, reviewing, publishing and public dissemination. Each phase requires different spatial conditions, ranging from concentration and privacy to collaboration and public interaction. At the same time, the project investigates the historical context of the existing building. Constructed in 1928, the house belongs to the same cultural period in which Rationalist architecture, modern graphic design and new editorial systems emerged across Europe. This parallel development established an unexpected connection between architecture and publishing that became fundamental to the conceptual development of the proposal. The research therefore identifies three main themes that guide the intervention: the contemporary publishing process, the architectural values of Rationalism and the book as a cultural object capable of generating spatial narratives.

Publication Date

2026

City

Madrid

Gridhaus

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