BAAS Arquitectura . renders: © Playtime
It’s clear that the current image the building shows doesn’t represent the dignity that its location on the Diagonal is due and that, in functional terms, the position of its core at the most privileged corner of its extension isn’t reasonable nor efficient. Accordingly, once a decision is taken to renovate the building, it makes sense to generally disregard the existing architecture in order to guarantee that the investment can be used to obtain a contemporary building that firmly responds to both the image of the institution and its strategic location on the Diagonal and that it is efficient from a functional and energy perspective.
The proposal, therefore, consists in stripping the building and reorganizing it with a new position for its staircase, elevator and service core, aligning it to the neighboring dividing wall. This draws attention to the great window that looks upon the inner courtyard and that guarantees cross-ventilation throughout the building. The proposed facade is a reinterpretation of an element typical to buildings in the Eixample, the vertical balcony, that is complemented with the use of other typical elements of traditional architecture such as the circular bow windows, the public ground floor porch area or the larger attic floor that is crowned by a generous overhang that finishes the building. All of the balconies can be used and accessed from work spaces.
It is on the ground floor where the building acquires its most public character with a two-storey tall porch and a more important entryway through the building’s most representative corner. The typical floor proposes an organizational system for its enclosed spaces that enables it to adjust more accurately to the building’s irregular perimetre.
From a bioclimatic perspective, the building is designed to work without motorized climatizing systems. A series of mechanical openings at the upper part of all of the windows that are managed by a centralized BMS are what enables natural ventilation of interior spaces, when exterior air temperature and air quality are favorable. This enables the building to cool down at night and take advantage of the concrete floor slabs and pavements’ inertia to temper the interior conditions. There are no false ceilings proposed. The facade openings are protected by means of eaves and textile sun protection.
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BAAS Arquitectura (Jordi Badia + Àlex Clarà + Jero Gutiérrez)
Images: Playtime
