XAPO, a cryptocurrency bank in an abandoned army barracks. An architecture between history and the digital age

XAPO, an online bank for cryptocurrencies, commissioned Lagranja Studio with the design of their flagship headquarters in a historic abandoned barracks in Gibraltar. Harmony, functionality and respect for the structure's antiquity were the guidelines for the project

XAPO is located within an old abandoned army barracks, looking for a new purpose, in the heart of Gibraltar's historic center, in the shadow of its famous rock. The farm occupies two arched bays of the barracks complex, built of local limestone, with ceilings supported by its original wooden beams

The original beams and stone walls have been cleaned and restored to their natural state. Starting with the intention of combining old architecture with modern design, Lagranja Studio reinvented the spaces with a contemporary office layout and with furniture and décor made using digital processes

The sides of the entrance are flanked by shallow pools that lend brightness to a dark space, especially at night when laser beams pass through both the pools and the reception area. To the right, through the original stone arches, is XAPO bank'; a number of ATMs where customers can handle their cyber currency transactions

The XAPO headquarters office is clustered around the patio, a space designed for both leisure and work, divided by glass screens for transparency and fluidity

Most of the custom furniture was 3D printed in Barcelona using organic corn-based plastic. Modular in form and delicately textured in appearance, the idea was to create a sense of community and an informal narrative where all spaces are harmonious. Standout pieces include the reception desk and the divider in the banking area waiting room, created with an interwoven composition of earth-colored semi-circular pattern