Parque de Bomberos en Valls / Santamaría Arquitectes

2 Diciembre 2011 

Arquitectos: Pere Santamaría García (Santamaría Arquitectes)
Ubicación: Valls, Tarragona, España
Colaboradores: Mireia Palomas, Pilar Toll, Gemma Torras
Promotor: GISA / Departament Interior Generalitat de Catalunya
Empresa Constructora:  CEJAM
Superficie: 1.337,02m2
Fotografías: Francesc Rubí

El nuevo parque de bomberos se sitúa en un solar prácticamente llano en el polígono industrial Palau de Reig, en Valls. Se pretende generar un edificio compacto e introvertido, diseñado como un objeto aislado. Se crea un volumen rectangular, alineado con la calle Fusters. La mitad del volumen está ocupado por las cocheras y servicios asociados, con helipuerto en la cubierta, y en la otra mitad se sitúan las dependencias del parque.

Para que el edificio se entienda como un único volumen, la diferencia de alturas se resuelve con un pliegue de la cubierta unitaria de hormigón. La cubierta se convierte en el elemento más importante en la imagen del edificio. Se desarrolla en dos niveles e incorpora un pliegue de una planta de altura que se convierte en la fachada por la cual se ilumina el gimnasio. Para potenciar la imagen compacta del volumen, la cubierta sobresale creando un voladizo de hormigón en todo el perímetro del edificio.

Los espacios más públicos, sala de control, despacho del jefe del parque y la sala polivalente, se sitúan en la planta baja, próximos al acceso, y se abren a la fachada principal que da ala calle. La sala-comedor y la cocina se sitúan en el extremo del edificio, abiertos a sur, donde se dispone un espacio exterior pavimentado bajo un porche  y árboles de hoja caduca. Los vestuarios y los servicios, la parte más privada del parque, se sitúan en la fachada posterior.

Las fachadas, sobretodo la principal, tienen la misión de conseguir la comprensión del edificio como un volumen continuo, a pesar de que los usos que se esconden detrás sean muy diferentes: uso doméstico en las dependencias y uso industrial en las cocheras. Con este fin, se trabaja solamente con dos materiales: chapa metálica ondulada y paneles sándwich de color rojo.

http://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/2011/12/02/parque-de-bomberos-en-valls-santamaria-arquitectes/

UNstudio: kutaisi airport

23 de Noviembre 2011

 
 

'kutaisi airport' by UNstudio - arrivals area
all images courtesy of UNstudio


the young state of georgia in the caucasus has gone through considerable development in recent years,
with growing numbers of tourists discovering the country which is rich with history. as a result,
there has been an increasing demand for airlines to fly there. for its geographical advantages and close proximity
to two of the eurasian country's most important UNESCO monuments, its new parliamentary city kutaisi has been
selected as the site for a new airport.

the design for the new transfer terminal and air traffic control tower for kutaisi airport has just been officially revealed
by the president of georgia, mikheil saakashvili. conceived by dutch architecture firm UNstudio, it is set to serve domestic
and global flights for use by international diplomats, national politicians and for tourism. the 4,000 m2 terminal building
will house a number of program spaces including: arrival halls, a check-in area with lounge, café and car rental facilities;
along with three gates for departure with retail, cafés, a CIP lounge area and exterior garden, an arrival area with customs
and offices for the border police and an administration area with staff rooms and press conference facilities.

in georgia, public buildings and private houses employ their entrance lobbies as a means of showcasing their individual identities.
through their design, UNstudio embraces this architectural concept as a means of manifesting the country's young and dynamic democracy,
along with its rapid development as a main crossing point in the region.

 

kutaisi airport departures area


incorporating both georgia's historic landscape and architecture into its design, the terminal refers to a pavilion,
a gateway in which a clear structural layout creates an enveloping and protective volume structured around a central exterior space
used by departing passengers. the transparent space around this central point is designed to ensure that the flows of passengers
are smooth and that the circulation of departures and arrivals do not coincide. the axes incorporate views from the plaza to the apron
and beyond to the caucasus on the horizon.  the overall layout organizes the logistical processes, and provides optimal security
and ensures that the travelling person has sufficient space to circulate comfortable. serving as a lobby to georgia,
the terminal could also operate as an art gallery, displaying works by local artists, further presenting the identity
of contemporary georgian culture.

the new airport aims to integrate both local and international elements of sustainability. an on-site underground source
of natural water provides the basis for the reduction of energy consumption through concrete core activation.
this water will be utilized in the floors of both the terminal and air traffic control tower, maintaining a regulated temperature
in the two volumes. the cantilevered roofs of the terminal building provide sun shading on south and southwest zones.
a hybrid low pressure ventilation system will be incorporated into the terminal's main structure, as well as a grey water
collection system located in the floor beneath. large areas of PV-cells on the roof's surface may also be implemented
to further reduce energy consumption. 

 

airport traffic control tower


the air traffic control tower stands at 55 metres high, 300 m2 and has been designed to compliment the terminal.
the traffic control cabin located on the top level of the structure, forms the focal point, offering a spacious and comfortable
interior ensuring a workspace of optimal concentration. the tower's exterior is clad with a transparent skin that has the potential
to change color whenever there is a fluctuation in traffic. the centre will function as a light beacon to the sky for the airport,
but also from the road to and from kutaisi. 1,500 m2 of supporting office spaces will be housed in a nearby building.

kutaisi airport will be georgia's first to have a strict segregation of waste. the aim is to establish a recycling system
which could be further implemented into new and existing projects in georgia. construction is set to begin in december 2011,
and is scheduled for operation in september 2012.

'the design for the new terminal in kutaisi focuses first and foremost on the experience of the traveller by creating an inviting, safe, transparent and user-friendly airport. the desire to provide for and communicate equally with both international visitors and the local community is paramount. it was particularly exciting for me to be able to design an airport which is not only linked to the new seat of parliament in kutaisi, but which also creates an entrance condition which functions as a port for the international community. the airport presents a symbolic infrastructural gateway to georgia and, from there, to the rest of the world.
the design for the new airport embraces the traveller by embodying the circumstance of the site. moments of both leaving and returning are celebrated by the large span, open spaces and high ceiling of the terminal structure - reflecting the ways in which such gestures were employed in the great railway stations of the past.' - ben van berkel, UNstudio

 
ground floor plan

gate diagram

diagram of the program spaces

project info:
client terminal: united airports of georgia llc
client air traffic control tower and offices: sakaeronavigatsia ltd.
location: kutaisi, georgia
building surface: terminal 4.000m2, control tower and offices 1.750m2
height air traffic control tower: 55m
building site: 11.000 m2
programme: international airport terminal, air traffic control tower and offices for navigation
status: concept design 2011, construction 2012

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/17808/unstudio-kutaisi-airport.html

Calatrava Withdraws from Denver Airport Expansion

15 Oct 2011

It was with much enthusiasm that Denver International Airport officials announced Santiago Calatrava as the architect for the new $650 million expansion that included a hotel, public plaza, and commuter-rail station. However, Calatrava is now withdrawing himself from the project only a year later. Numerous concerns have been cited as the reason for his departure including “financial constraints, unnecessary time delays, and deep divisions” between his design team, DIA, and Parsons International Group as quoted by his wife and business manager Robertina in a letter to DIA manager Kim Day.

As with many public projects, cutbacks made their way into the equation, with the overall budget being reduced $150 million from the original in February. The 500 room signature hotel was reduced by one floor, including the scaling back of numerous design elements. Calatrava’s commuter-rail suspension bridge was also downsized from $60 million to $22 million before finally losing all funding.

Robertina Calatrava also mentions in the letter that “The project still lacks sufficient funding … [and] it continues to set an unrealistic schedule with little or no room to develop and consolidate the design in keeping with the standards and quality of a Calatrava signature design.”

However, the expansion project is still pressing forward on schedule and on budget – albeit significantly reduced. Calatrava and DIA are parting ways amicably (Calatrava’s firm was paid $13 million for their design services), with the remainder of production being handled by architects of record Anderson Mason Dale Architects and Gensler.  In a recent statement Calatrava notes that “from the beginning, we have had the project’s best interests at heart, and although we have decided to part ways, I wish DIA all the best with the South Terminal Redevelopment Program and its future success.”

http://www.archdaily.com/171794/calatrava-withdraws-from-denver-airport-expansion/

Liina Transitional Shelter / Aalto University Wood Program

11 de octubre de 2011.

 

Architects: Aalto University Wood Program
Location: Espoo, Finland
 Project Year: 2011
 Photographs: Courtesy of Aalto University Wood Program  

Student Design Team: Signe Aarset Loe (Norway), Miguel Castillo Lopez (Spain), Aleksandar Cherepnalkoski (Macedonia), Megan Groth (USA), Vladimir Ilic (Serbia), Rebecca Littman-Smith (USA), Marta Marcos Marono (Spain), Maria Mor Pera (Spain), Chaeham Oh (Korea), Hugo Plagnol (France), Bernardo Richter (Brazil), Einari Sutinen (Finland), Dmitry Troyanovsky (Australia)
 Structural Designers: Ulla Hakulinen (Finland), Kai Nordberg (Finland)
 Wood Engineers: Kristoffer Gull (Finland), Annukka Hirsi (Finland), Emil Jansson (Finland), Samuli Kimpimäki (Finland), Olli Koski (Finland), Pasi Salminen (Finland), Arefi Shaghajevg (Finland), Hanna-Maija Tikka (Finland), Tiina Varetsalo (Finland)
 Professors and Tutors (Architects): Pekka Heikkinen, Matti Kuittinen, Pentti Raiski, Cristina Santamaria Nogueira
 Engineer: Hannu Hirsi
 Architectural Student Tutors: Ransu Helenius, Mikko Merz

 

The number of refugees worldwide is expected to grow to over a billion by 2050. The Liina transitional shelter is a temporary building to be used in cold climates during crisis situations anywhere around the world. Designed and built entirely by the students of the Wood Program at Aalto University, Liina is made of mostly Finnish wood and wood-based materials, making it not only an elegant and dignified but also a sustainable solution to this global problem.

As a transitional shelter it is intended to be a secondary response after a crisis. The shelter can be assembled by two adults in six hours with only common tools and a cartoon diagram. It is designed to house a family of five for up to five years during the post-disaster reconstruction phase and then can be upgraded, relocated, resold or recycled. The interior area is 18 sqm, designed to comply with the accepted standard of 3.5 sqm per inhabitant in refugee housing. The interior contains two semi-private sleeping spaces, a galley kitchen and dual purpose eating/living/workspace. A loft over the sleeping areas can be used as additional sleeping area and storage. There is an additional seven square meters of covered exterior space meant to serve multiple functions for the inhabitants during their occupancy period. 

The Liina concept is based on a series of prefabricated sandwich panels that can be easily transported and assembled, and can be flatpacked into a small space. Each panel is 600 mm wide (half the dimension of a piece of plywood) to cut down on waste and to be easily carried by one adult. Six panels are joined together with simple, repeated wooden-dowelled joints to form a frame and tightened using nylon straps (‘liina’ in Finnish), like those used for the transportation of cargo. The strap creates air-tight joints without any metal fasteners or the use of electric-powered tools on-site. The frame is then tilted up and stacked one-by-one with the other frames and tied together with 3 straps. Finally, the building is protected from water and UV damage with a tent-like canopy. The modularity of the design makes it possible to add or subtract frames in order to increase or decrease the size of the shelter to accommodate the needs of the inhabitants. The plan of the shelter was designed to provide varying degrees of privacy and spaces for daytime and nighttime activities.

 

Other parameters for the design were the size and weight of the panels, ease of assembly and reasonably good heat insulation. The result is a low-tech solution of plywood and LVL (laminated veneer lumber) panels with wood-fiber insulation. Following an ideas competition last autumn, thirteen Wood Program students from ten countries developed the shelter by constructing full-size models of the building and carrying out structural tests, such as earthquake and wind-tunnel tests, in conjunction with a team of engineering students.

Liina is designed for the prevailing climate in the Ararat region of Turkey, chosen for its continental climate and history of refugees and displaced people due to disasters such as earthquakes, drought, and political turmoil. However Liina’s design can easily be adapted to a variety of cultural needs and environmental situations. A prototype of the shelter was assembled in Helsinki’s Railway Square during the World Village Festival in May 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.archdaily.com/174909/liina-transitional-shelter-aalto-university-wood-program/

AeI Headquarters / AeI, Arquitectura e Interiores

2 de Abril de 2011

Por Catalina Gutiérrez

PUBLICADO EN: Arquitectura de Interiores, Arquitectura de Oficinas, Obras Destacadas , AeI Arquitectura e Interiores, Bogotá, colombia, interiores, oficinas 

© Andrés Valbuena

Arquitectos: AeI, Arquitectura e Interiores

Ubicación: Bogotá, Colombia

Director departamento diseño: Juan Pablo Campos

Coordinador de diseño de calidad: Natalia Heredia

Arquitecto diseñador: Ignacio Arciniegas

Director departamento construcción: Daniel Salcedo

Coordinador Proyecto: Alfonso Llanos

Arquitecto supervisor de construcción: Maria Fernanda Correa

Director de proyecto: Marta Gallo

Gerente general / Socio: Juliana Fernández

Superficie Proyecto: 910 m2

Fotografías: Andres Valbuena

   

Cuando empezamos a pensar la construcción de nuestra nueva sede de una manera sustentable, pensamos en los elementos básicos como la calidad de la luz, el aire interior, agua y confort, para crear un espacio no solo eficiente en consumo de energía, sino un lugar de trabajo saludable para los 90 empleados, proveedores y clientes.

© Andrés Valbuena

Este proyecto es parte del grupo pionero de construcción en Colombia, registrado con certificación LEED en diseño y construcción sustentable en el país.

El proyecto se inserta en la ciudad de Bogotá, en la calle Cra. 14 No. 98 – 5, edificio AeI construido en un terreno de una urbanización anterior. La oficina ocupa una superficie de 1.000 m2 en los pisos 2 y 3 del edificio, y están diseñadas y construidas por las mismas compañías que realizaron el edificio; diseñado por AeI, y construido por CURE Architects.

© Andrés Valbuena

La oficina consiste en una recepción, oficinas abiertas, oficinas privadas para los gestores de la empresa, salas de reunión, salas de trabajo, biblioteca y sala de muestras, centro de computación, centro de copiado, baños y una cafetería en terraza.

http://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/2011/04/02/aei-headquarters-aei-arquitectura-e-interiores/