Commercial

One of the most striking examples of commercial adaptive reuse can be found in Salamanca, Spain, where the 18th-century convent of San Antonio el Real was converted into a flagship Zara store. The project, undertaken by Zara’s parent company Inditex, illustrates how historic religious buildings can be imaginatively repurposed for modern commercial use while safeguarding their architectural and cultural value.

The convent, with its Baroque stone façades and commanding presence in the historic centre of Salamanca, had fallen out of its original use, placing its future at risk. Inditex approached the project with a focus on preservation as well as practicality, ensuring that the exterior was carefully restored to highlight the craftsmanship and character of the period. Inside, the adaptation created a spacious, light-filled retail environment that makes the most of the convent’s soaring ceilings, vaulted structures, and cloistered walkways. Modern design interventions were introduced discreetly, allowing the historical fabric of the building to remain the dominant feature.

By successfully integrating a global fashion brand within an 18th-century convent, the project has ensured the long-term preservation and continued relevance of the building. The reuse of San Antonio el Real demonstrates the potential of commercial conversions to breathe new life into redundant heritage assets, providing them with sustainable futures while enriching the identity of the cities they inhabit.