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24 de febrero de 2010.
© SOMOS Arquitectos
Architect: SOMOS Arquitectos
Location: Madrid, Spain
Project Architects: Pablo Fernandez Lewicki, Jose Antonio Tallon Iglesias
Structural Engineer: Deroman S.L.
Engineering: GD Inco S.L.
Quantity Surveyor: Miguel Asensio Rivera
Contractor: Ferrovial Servicios S.A.
Budget: $2,526,764.17 Euro
Project Area: 5,174.23 sqm
Project year: 2004
Construction year: 2007-2009
Photographs: SOMOS Arquitectos
From the first moment we saw ourselves forced to MAINTAIN the VOLUME of the block, since the urban plan had already fixed it in order to establish a dialogue with neighboring buildings that at that time were inbuilt. Our intuition asked to us to reshape the marked volume, especially in the corner, BREAKING IT UP to create an irregular profile in both sides of the plot. The urban fabric of Vallecas follows the typical squared block grid comprising residential units, public facilities and green zones, all tied up by roads. This type of urban fabric falls into monotony: similar built masses, without hardly any variation in their four sides, without remarkable differences between blocks.
Volume fragmentation gives us the chance to develop buildings with enough identity to be recognizable and absorbed in the city’s memory, and to provide visual richness for pedestrian routes. In our case, a first step to fragmentation is given: the plot is a QUARTER of the original block. We decide to continue with this operation dividing the volume in two HALVES held in tension through a void. We characterize the urban IMAGE through the interplay of space and volume, we establish a dialogue with the neighboring buildings through the VIRTUAL VOLUME (previously defined by the height and width scheduled in the urban plan), composed by means of the void which has been incorporated in the overall composition, improving sun exposure and ventilation. Thanks to the great access space which leads into the patio, we make the block PERMEABLE at the spot where public space demands it most (green area in front of the building), at the same time solving the CHAMFER fixed in the urban plan: the sidewalk is integrated and extended under the great overhang.
Translucent polycarbonate panels give shape to an homogenous façade that helps to understand the volumes in an abstract way.
http://www.archdaily.com/50678/vallecas-11-somos-arquitectos/#more-50678
21 de febrero de 2010.
Architect: Peter Kuczia
Location: Upper Silesia, Poland
Contractor: HB Unibud s.a. | Czechowice-Dziedzice
Site Area: 14,800 sqm
Project Area: 670 sqm
Construction year: 2009
Photographs: Tomasz Sinek, Peter Kuczia
Like a traditional polish farm, the GREEN WATER SPORTS STATION blends into the rural landscape of the shores of Lake Laka in Upper Silesia (Poland).
Three main buildings of the complex – situated orthogonal to each other – define a public place. This place comes into being on the same way like it occurs in the typical polish manor between the cottage, stable and barn. And analogical to them, every building of the Station has a different function: the boat hangar in the east, the central visitors building on the waterfront and the restrooms with showers westward.
The outer form of the buildings is inspired by the neighboring, rural architecture with its formal clarity, double pitch roofs and pleasant proportions. Instead of pastiche of the rustic forms, all details are modern and simple, but well thought out. The dressy facades and roofs are planked with charcoal coloured fibre-cement panels. The roof and the façade of each building melt that way into one monolithic body. Colourful windows and vitiated air pipes implemented into the dark surface of the outer skin generate bright contrasts and quasi musical rhythms.
The design of the project was determinated by the twin goals of low lifecycle costs and a reduction in construction costs. Cost-saving were made by the application of traditional building techniques and the use of local materials. Solar collection panels are located on the roof and a photovoltaic system is planed for the near future. The solar stack effect is supporting the natural ventilation of the buildings. The project was subsidized by the European Union.
http://www.archdaily.com/50233/green-water-sports-station-peter-kuczia/
19 de febrero de 2010.
© Christian Richters
Architects: Mecanoo
Location: Llerida, Spain
Client: Centre de Negocis i de Convencions S.A., Lleida, Spain; competition Municipality of Lleida
Local Architect: labb arquitectura, Barcelona
Contractor: Dragados, Barcelona
Structural Engineer: ABT bv, Delft; BOMA, Barcelona
Acoustics: Peutz b.v., Zoetermeer; Higini Arau, Barcelona
Electrical and Mecanical Engineer: Deerns, Rijswijk; Einesa, Lleida
Technical Architect: Ardevols S.L, Barcelona
Building Cost Consultant: Basalt Nieuwegein; Ardevols S.L. Barcelona
Fire safety Consultant: Einesa, Lleida
Budget: € 35,000,000
Design Year: 2004-2005
Construction Year: 2006-2010
Photographs: Christian Richters / Lafotogràfica
The mountain with the historical cathedral Seu Vella and the Segre river mark the high and low points of the mountainous landscape in which Lleida lies, after Barcelona the second city of Catalonia. On the banks of the Segre, somewhat outside the centre of the city, is coming La Llotja, a large conference centre with a theatre. Mecanoo has interpreted the landscape of Lleida as an exciting decor before which the building has been set down somewhat away from the river. The mise-en-scène is elaborated on three levels of scale. Regarded at the large scale of the region, the building represents a connecting link between the river and the mountain. Viewed at the level of the city, La Llotja and the river forms a balanced composition. At street level the cantilevers of the La Llotja de Lleida conference centre provide protection from sun and rain.
The large stone edifice seems to have sprouted from the Spanish earth. The building’s horizontal form provides a large garden on the roof, while under the cantilevers begins a square for events, with the stairs of the adjacent building serving as a tribune. Parking is underground, the loading area for trucks is at ground floor, where you also find the floor of the theatre stage, the dressing rooms and the restaurant kitchen. The loading area for small trucks is at -1. In a light court in the centre of the building, a monumental staircase rises from street level to the multi-functional hall on the first floor. A ramp leads on to the foyer on the second level where there is a panoramic window looking out across the city and the river. In the foyer are the entrances to the theatre, which also serves as a large conference hall, meeting rooms and a small conference room. The latter is visually connected to the multifunctional hall by means of a raked tribune separated by a glass wall. The press office, VIP rooms and a meeting centre are situated on the city side of the building, accessed by an internal corridor. The entire functional logistics for the theatre and the conference centre are situated inconspicuously but extremely functionally. Restaurants with bars are located on the side of La Llotja facing the river and the square. The monolithic building is in fact composed of different pieces of buildings linked together by sound-absorbing foyers.
Materials ensure distinction and orientation in the interior. The exterior is of stone. Inside there are mainly white, plastered walls and either wooden or marble floors. The entrance hall and the multi-functional hall have a marble floor, while the foyer has a floor of mixed hardwood. The theatre has the atmosphere of an orchard with walls of dark wood in which trees of light have been cut out. The colour palette of fruit is a theme that recurs in small details throughout the building. After all, the region of Lleida is famous for its fruit production. The roof is colourful: pergolas support a range of creepers and climbers like roses, jasmin and ivy. The garden with its mirador is not only pleasant but also useful since the ground cover keeps the roof cool in the summer, provides a beautiful view for people living in the neighbourhood and serves an extra place for conference guests to sojourn.
http://www.archdaily.com/50183/la-llotja-de-lleida-mecanoo/#more-50183
