In the heart of Avinguda Diagonal, Barcelona, Spain, the iconic Illa Diagonal shopping centre has renewed its interior architecture helping guide visitors throughout the centre. For this project, Hunter Douglas Architectural has developed a multilayer ceiling system that transforms more than 3,000m² of suspended surface into a continuous architectural element connecting the different buildings that make up the complex. The solution is built around CombiLine, a hybrid system that allows variable modulations and precise adaptation to changing spatial configurations. On this foundation, the project deploys a series of solid ayous wood layers that absorb height differences, creating depth and bringing a warm identity to the architecture.
The renowned architectural practice Battleiroig Arquitectura, responsible for the project, structured the ceiling to guide movement and soften transitions between zones. The versatility of CombiLine brought this vision to life and defined the base level from which the multi-plane structure unfolds. Tefals, during project installation explored the system’s potential to suspend upper layers while maintaining continuous visual reading, even in areas where height conditions varied between buildings.
Materiality that accompanies the flow
The choice of ayous wood is driven by its technical performance and its ability to transform spatial perception. Its light tone and homogeneous texture create a luminous presence that envelopes popular areas without interfering with visitors. It is recognised for its lightweight composition, dimensional stability, and ease of machining. These characteristics enable the use of slats in varying depths and lengths while maintaining precision across expansive suspended surfaces.
This materiality brings a tactile, human character to an environment that blends activity, movement and an almost urban scale. The ceiling becomes a layer that sets the pace of circulation, softens encounters and provides a coherent reading in a space where perceptual continuity is essential.
A ceiling that resolves transitions and builds continuity
Illa Diagonal presents variations in ceiling height that, without a considered architectural response, could disrupt the continuity of the interior experience. CombiLine transforms this into a ceiling that interprets the complex movement and translates it into a fluid sequence. Suspended planes adjust depth and spacing within each zone, helping visitors establish a continuous gesture, even as the existing architecture shifts.
The ayous slats offer a soft texture, balancing the scale of space. Their appearance and dimensional stability allow precise modulation, despite the need to adjust levels to accommodate height variations. The ceiling thus acts as a surface that guides and unifies, restoring coherence to a structurally diverse environment.
CombiLine system: precision, versatility and performance
CombiLine is a system designed to offer compositional freedom and technical adaptability in contemporary projects. The carrier rails accommodate a combination of metal, wood or felt panels, including solutions such as 30BXD, 30WL60 or 30HL60, enabling designers to fine-tune modulations, transparencies and finishes according to project needs. Using panels up to 6 metres long enhances continuous ceiling reading, while the independent demountability of each piece ensures easy access to the plenum for maintenance or system integration.
When integrated with felt panels, the system provides enhanced acoustic performance, achieving high absorption values under specific configurations. It includes certified materials such as Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze, underlining its alignment with current sustainability criteria.
A technical response for a dynamic public space
The intervention at Illa Diagonal illustrates how CombiLine’s versatility effectively addresses complex circulation areas while preserving visual clarity and material unity. The system enables work across multiple levels, seamless integration of building services, and the accommodation of height variations, improving the visitor experience.
The ceiling is far more than a suspended plane, it becomes a structure that connects buildings, accompanies users and defines a shared atmosphere. The system’s technology, combined with the warmth of the chosen finish, results in a solution that balances functionality and architectural expression in high-traffic areas.