In the municipality of Puig-reig, in Catalonia, the remains of the Merola castle, dating back to the 13th century, stand: a watchtower, unstable due to the earthquake of 1500, is stabilized thanks to the project of a wooden tower by Carles Enrich Studio
In the south of Puig-reig stands Merola’s Tower, the last witness of a 13th-century castle. Carles Enrich Studio led a delicate intervention to preserve what remains of the tower, threatened by the risk of collapse due to earthquakes in the 1500s. The project, part of a broader vision on renovation projects, not only protects the historic site but also returns it to the community and visitors, transforming it into a cultural landmark.
The intervention was based on two fundamental strategies: the consolidation of the existing ruins and the strengthening of the medieval structure. To ensure stability, a new structure made of solid wood was inserted, with modular elements of 14 cm². This system, similar to scaffolding, not only supports the original walls but also reproduces the original volume of the tower, maintaining its symbolic value in the landscape.
The addition of an internal staircase allows access to the three original levels of the tower, restoring the site to its ancient lookout function. This intervention, in addition to ensuring future maintenance of the monument, allows visitors to rediscover a piece of medieval history from a unique perspective, creating a connection between memory and contemporary landscape.
