In the heart of Avinguda Diagonal, the iconic Illa Diagonal shopping centre has renewed its interior architecture to reflect and guide the movement of visitors. For this project, Hunter Douglas Architectural has developed a multilayer ceiling system that transforms more than 3,000 m² 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, create depth and bring a warm identity to the whole.
The renowned architectural practice Battleiroig Arquitectura, responsible for the project, conceived the ceiling as a structure capable of guiding movement and softening transitions between zones. The versatility of Combi-Line made it possible to bring this vision to life and to define the base level from which the multi-plane structure unfolds. Building on this, the installer Tefals explored the potential of the system to suspend upper layers while maintaining a continuous visual reading, even in areas where height conditions varied significantly between buildings.
Materiality that accompanies the flow
The choice of ayous wood responds both to its technical performance and to its ability to transform spatial perception. Its light tone and homogeneous texture create a luminous presence that envelops the common areas without interfering with visitor movement. It is a wood known for its lightness, dimensional stability and ease of machining, qualities that make it possible to work with slats of varying depths and lengths without losing precision in a large suspended surface.
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 height differences that, without an appropriate solution, could fragment the interior experience. CombiLine turns this condition into an opportunity to create a ceiling that interprets the movement of the complex and translates it into a fluid sequence. The base level establishes the rhythm of the layout, while the suspended planes adjust depth and spacing depending on each zone, allowing visitors to perceive a continuous gesture even as the existing architecture shifts.
The ayous slats bring a soft texture that balances the scale of the space. Their uniform tone and dimensional stability allow for precise modulation, even when levels need to adjust to absorb 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. Its carrier rail accommodates combinations of metal, wood or felt panels — including solutions such as 30BD/BXD, 30WL60 or 30HL60 — enabling designers to fine-tune modulations, transparencies and finishes according to project needs. The possibility of using panels up to 6 metres long enhances the continuous reading of the ceiling, while the independent demounting of each piece ensures easy access to the plenum for maintenance or system integration.
The system also delivers significant acoustic performance, achieving high absorption values in specific configurations, especially when felt panels are incorporated. It includes materials certified under standards 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 demonstrates how CombiLine’s versatility can resolve complex circulation areas while preserving visual clarity and material unity. The system enables work across multiple levels, seamless integration of services, and absorption of height variations without visitors perceiving breaks in continuity.
In this project, the ceiling is far more than a suspended plane: it becomes a structure that connects buildings, accompanies users and defines a shared atmosphere along the route. The system’s technology, combined with the warmth of the chosen finish, results in a solution that balances functionality and architectural expression in a high-traffic environment.
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