Clock Pharmacy

Pharmacy in Aspe

​A privileged location, on the hillside of the Sierra de Bernia in Altea Hills, a mountainous area with astounding views over the bay, yet completely saturated with homes and a highly open programme of holiday dwellings, decisively conditioned the development of this project. Clock Pharmacy is a small, family-run pharmacy located in the historic old-town of Aspe (Alicante) boasting more than 100 years’ history, and, therefore, forming part of the collective memory of the town’s inhabitants.

The pharmacy’s refurbishment had to accomplish the modernisation of a dark and dank premises, through the application of modern marketing concepts commonly found in the current pharmaceutical sector, yet without losing sight of the expression of its history and the space as a reference point.

Desde nuestro architecture studio The pharmacy’s refurbishment had to accomplish the modernisation of a dark and dank premises, through the application of modern marketing concepts commonly found in the current pharmaceutical sector, yet without losing sight of the expression of its history and the space as a reference point.

Inside the premises: the space is wide-open. The placement of the counters once again breaks down the limits between the customer and the product, hereby humanising the relationship between the pharmacist and the buyer. This convergence between urban walkways and commercial visits turns marketing and personalised sales into a simple act that brings us closer, fostering trust in prescriptions.

Formally, a clearly defined cut has been created in the building in which the premises is located, the rest is formed by shelving, a spiral that envelopes the space containing the main pharmacy and which marks out the boundaries of the other secondary spaces, to create, furthermore, the façade. The contrast between the heavier elements and the lightness of the shelving leads to a feeling of openness towards the pedestrian walkway, an effect caused by the absence of exterior limits with the actual street. Woodwork with natural finish that forms these central shelving units evoke a sense of healthiness and warmth, quality and the desire to remain in place for a long time, of something that belongs to and will belong to the town’s history.

The main merit of the final project is to achieve the Clock Pharmacy’s standing as the reference point it has always been, though modernised so that it can continue to fulfil this function for the next 100 years.