Centre for Training and Specializing in Natural Materials

Exterior: This project consists in a rehabititation of a semi-demolished warehouse. This building responds to the harsh climate of the summer months of Moron de la Frontera, in Seville. The sunlight and the elevate temperatures influenced the design of the building. Thus the project main façade is made by adobe bricks wall, and the rest of the building was made using low energy cost and materials.

Interior: The plan of the building is rectangular, a ramp allows you get to the fist floor.

Workshops were developed in big areas inside and outside the building creating a direct interior-exterior connection.

Light: The building is flooded with natural light through the horizontal windows in the north façade. And also spills into the spaces through the skylights.

Structure: The original grid steel structure and the roof truss were reinforced using welded sections, in order to preserve the original structure.

Foundations were also reinforced by concrete slabs.

The rest of the building had non-load bearing masonry made by clay bricks. 

Services: Services in the building were minimum possible, due to the adobe wall that creates an appropriate interior atmosphere. 

Sara de la Encarnacion


Exterior: This project consists in a rehabititation of a semi-demolished warehouse. This building responds to the harsh climate of the summer months of Moron de la Frontera, in Seville. The sunlight and the elevate temperatures influenced the design of the building. Thus the project main façade is made by adobe bricks wall, and the rest of the building was made using low energy cost and materials.

Interior: The plan of the building is rectangular, a ramp allows you get to the fist floor. Workshops were developed in big areas inside and outside the building creating a direct interior-exterior connection.

Light: The building is flooded with natural light through the horizontal windows in the north façade. And also spills into the spaces through the skylights.  

Structure: The original grid steel structure and the roof truss were reinforced using welded sections, in order to preserve the original structure.

Foundations were also reinforced by concrete slabs.

The rest of the building had non-load bearing masonry made by clay bricks.

Services: Services in the building were minimum possible, due to the adobe wall that creates an appropriate interior atmosphere.

High Line Park, New York

High Line, New York, Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Piet & Field Operations

The park, which was opened five years ago, recovers brings the disused elevated 'West Side Line' railway back into use, along more than two kilometres southwest of Manhattan.

The project brings back into use the metallic structure of the rails and designs a green platform where paths, relaxation areas, exhibitions and small shops are arranged.

New paths, relaxation areas, exhibition spaces and small shops are arranged along the metal structure of the rails, which have been incorporated into the design, creating an elevated green platform.

The work recreates revives the old spaces such as the stations through a new recreational space.

The floor has been distributed in different areas of planting. Different areas of planting create distinct zones along the park. The vegetation ranges from different types of grass lawn, shrubs, perennials trees to more tropical plants such as banana trees.

The pavements are resolved in constructed from precast concrete with wood finished Ip. The old rails have been restored to define the edges of the planting alcorques. The stair walls are faced with aged Steel.

The High Line Park is a great roof garden that allows a new model to walk and enjoy of Manhattan.

Not only is The High Line Park in Manhattan a great public park but it is also a model for how we can rediscover and re-use the abandoned spaces of our great cities.

Ana María Palacios Vega

The park, which was opened five years ago, recovers the disused elevated railways, along more than two kilometres southwest of Manhattan (the West Side Line).

The Project brings back into use the metallic structure of the rails and designs a green platform where are arranged paths, relaxation areas, exhibitions and small shops.

The work recreates the old spaces (stations, railways…) through a new recreational space.

The floor has been distributed in different areas of planting. The vegetation ranges from different types of lawn, shrubs, perennials trees to more tropical plants such as banana trees.

The pavements is resolved in precast concrete with wood finished Ip. The old rails have been restored to define alcorques. The stairs´ walls are faced with aged Steel.

The High Line Park is a great roof garden that allows a new model to walk and enjoy of Manhattan.

School, Burnhaupt-le-Haut

The new school of Burnhaupt-le-Haut employs an innovative environmental approach. It is the first school in Alsace and the second in France to produce more energy than it consumes. The architect Thomas Weulersse of the Studio d-Form was inspired by the German concept of "Passivhaus",where buildings are so energy efficient they need little or no outside energy source.

The facade clad with ceramic panels. Ventilating and insulating in clay constitutes an ideal principle of construction for the insulation and the protection from the external environment.

A durable and effective insulation contributes to the reduction of the consumption of energy for heating and in air conditioning.

The system of double flow ventilation  is associated with a 15kw wood pellet boiler. The very strong insulation in natural and ecological materials is assured by 46 cm walls and 56 cm roof thicknesses in absorbent cellulose cotton and rigid wood wool. Windows are triple glazed and the roof windows are quadruple glazed. Electrical energy production is guaranteed by the implementation incorporation of 280 m2 of photovoltaic panels exposed facing due south.

These factors provide optimum levels of occupant comfort and operational efficiency.

The heating constant building temperature is assured assisted by three sources of energy:

• the sun, the building are orientated to take advantage of south light and 85% of the south facade consists of big large horizontal glazed  windows,
• a small wood pellet boiler and
• the occupants of the school.

Inma Martin


The new school of Burnhaupt-le-Haut is the first school with positive energy in Alsace and the second in France. The project joins in an innovative environmental approach. The architect Thomas Weulersse of the Studio d-Form was inspired by the German concept of "Passivhaus" so this school produces more energy that the one that it consumes.

The facade clad with ceramic panels, ventilated and insulated in clay constitutes an ideal principe of construction for the insulation and the protection from the external environment.

A durable and effective insulation contributes to the reduction of the consumption in heating and in air conditioning.

The system of ventilation double flow is associated with a boiler in pellet of 15 kW. The very strong insulation in natural and ecological materials is assured by 46 cm walls and 56 cm roof in absorbent cotton of cellulose and wool of stiff wood. Windows are in triple glazing and the windows of roof in quadruple glazing. As for the production in electrical energy, it is guaranteed by the implementation of 280 m2 of the photovoltaic panels exposed due south.

That provide optimun levels of occupant comfort and operational efficiency.

The heater is assured by three sources of energy:

• the sun, the building are orientated to take advantage of south light and 85 % of the south facade consist of big glazed horizontal window,
• a small boiler wood.
• the occupants of the school

Cultural Center in Coria del Río

This building is a cultural centre, located in Coria del Río, for Japanese people who come to visit the town. It's an isolated object on the banks of the river which stands in contrast and counterpoint to Coria's traditional buildings.

The plan of the building is a zig-zag form which makes a double connection , to the town park at one end and to the other, the river.

The almost domestic entrance emphasises the river and frames it.

Versatility is the most important aspect of the  programme; the building has to be an exhibition room, an auditorium and a stand at the fair.

The whole building is constructed of concrete with vertical glazing strips, these vertical glazing strips allow light to flood into  the building, the façade is an enormous window.

Jara Sanchez

The building is located in Coria del Río and it's a cultural center for Japanese people who come to visit Coria. It's an isolated object in the brooklet of the river which stands in contrast to the traditional Coria´s buildings.

The plan of the building is a zig-zag form which makes a doble conection , on one hand, to a park of the town and, on the other hand, to the river. The entry wants to emphasise the river and frames it.

The versatility is the most important in its programme, the building has to be an exhibition room, an auditorium, a fair´s stand,... The whole building is constructed of concrete and vertical glazing strips, this vertical glazing strips allow light entering the building,the façade is a enormous window.

Student Residency, Almería

The building, a student residence in Almería, was my final degree project. The footprint is aligned with the edge of the site adjoining a public green space. It was developed as the outer edge of the landscaped zone: Defining space rather than occupying space.

As a result, the building form is vast; it consists of 15000 m2 across two floors and a basement. foundation. Openings scattered across the structure give a dim but exciting light within.

The courtyards have wooden slats which with the movement of the sun recall sunlight through trees. These also bring ventilation and light to the residences.

The whole residence is clad in ¿bronze? coloured vertical glazing strips. These are colored glasses. The interior structure consists of a concrete waffle slab.

Finally say that the influence of the project is the Rem Koolhaas work in Agadir and the “30 publics housing promotion in Conil de la Frontera by Fernando Suárez y Javier Terrados.

Here is some of the Europan description in Ceuta. All could be written about your project, but the last one would be particularly useful. Particularly when seeing picture 3.

The outside wall is discreet, climatically appropriate, suggesting an interior of shade and comfort. The alarmingly simple interior offers spatial variety in the extreme. Extremely functional rooms play with quality of light, depth and shade and enrich family life. While the communal spaces, the alleyways and patios, imply a vibrant community life too.

 

Blanca Murga Solana


The building is my Degree Final Project, a student residence in Almería. The footprint is aligned with the edge of the site. It is adjoining to a public green space.

As a result, the building form is very vast, because it has 15.000 m2 built, in two levels on the ground and a foundation, with a lot of openings scattered across the structure, which give a dim but exciting light.

The courtyards have wooden slats which when the movements of the sun it recall sunlight through trees. This brings ventilation and light to the residence.

The whole residence is clad in vertical glazing strips. These are colored glasses. The interior structure consists of a concrete waffle slab.

Finally say that the influence of the project is the Rem Koolhaas work in Agadir and the “30 publics housing promotion in Conil de la Frontera by Fernando Suárez y Javier Terrados.

Sunset Chapel, Acapulco, Mexico. BNKR Arquitecture.

Sunset Chapel designed by BNKR Arquitecture is a beautiful project located in Acapulco, Mexico. The architects had to design a wedding chapel where many couples will celebrate their first day of marriage.

This 120m2 building had to meet two objectives. First, the chapel had to take full advantage of the spectacular views. Second, the sun had to set exactly behind the altar cross.

Two elements obstructed the principal views: large trees and abundant vegetation, and a behemoth of a boulder blocking the main sight of the sunset. In order to clear these obstructions, the level of the chapel had to be raised at least five meters. Since only exotic and picturesque vegetation surrounds this virgin oasis, BNKR architect strived to make the least possible impact on the site reducing the footprint of the building to nearly half the floor area of the upper level.

Raised high above the surrounding vegetation, the stark concrete of BNKR Arquitecture’s memorial Sunset Chapel mimetically embodies the strength and solidity of the massive stones. The main window of the chapel looks towards the port city of Acapulco.

Regular apertures Vertical strips in the open exposed concrete of the walls of the chapel allow shards of light to enter the sacred space, evoking the beauty of heavenly light and transforming the planes of the walls and concrete pews of the interior with gleaming alternations of radiance and darkness. This quality is constantly changing throughout the day and at sunset the chapel becomes burnished and luminous in the fading light - a luminous and breathing form.

The Sunset Chapel’s emphasis on light symbolically points to the splendor of the transition from day to night, and the changing of the seasons turning of the year. The barely-there walls also mean that the building is open to the beauty of the untouched natural surroundings.

'Recomenzar' - A Journey to Sunset Chapel

María Hormigo

Sunset Chapel designed by BNKR Arquitecture is a beautiful 120 m2 project. It is located in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. The architects had a special job this time, they had to design a wedding chapel where many couples will celebrate their first day of married couple.

This building had to meet two objectives. First, the chapel had to take full advantage of the spectacular views. Second, the sun had to set exactly behind the altar cross.

Two elements obstructed the principal views: large trees and abundant vegetation, and a behemoth of a boulder blocking the main sight of the sunset. In order to clear these obstructions, the level of the chapel had to be raised at least five meters. Since only exotic and picturesque vegetation surrounds this virgin oasis, BNKR architect strived to make the least possible impact on the site reducing the footprint of the building to nearly half the floor area of the upper level.

Raised high above the surrounding vegetation, the stark concrete of BNKR Arquitecture’s memorial Sunset Chapel mimetically embodies the strength and solidity of the massive stones. The main window of the chapel looks towards the port city of Acapulco.

Regular apertures in the open concrete of the walls of the chapel allow shards of light to enter the sacred space, evoking the beauty of heavenly light and transforming the planes of the walls and concrete pews of the interior with gleaming alternations of radiance and darkness. This quality is constantly changing throughout the day and at sunset the chapel becomes burnished and luminous in the fading light.

The Sunset Chapel’s emphasis on light symbolically points to the splendor of the transition from day to night, and the turning of the year. The barely-there walls also mean that the building is open to the beauty of the untouched natural surroundings.

A Vast Programme in a Small Space

I would like to start by writing telling you I am a 'practical' architect, one that is more concerned with the technicalities of it and not the art, so it is quite difficult for me to speak about something I’ve done without a huge sense of reality.

I haven’t spoken about “how light spills through a window”, or about “a space full of colorful abstraction” for 28 years – since my school days. This kind of speech now sounds to me just like poetry - I respect poetry but it is not my business.

It’s been a long time since I realized my work involves more than  just putting together concrete, steel, wood or bricks in a reasonable way to get a building that people can use properly.

I propose you to have a look at this project, built in 2008 whose main difficulty came from the complexities and of the density required by the brief the client asked me for: a four storey bulding with 2 flats, 2 offices 1 storeroom and 5 parking spaces, all in a site of only 150 m2.

To understand the development of the project the basic floor plan layout we ought to focus on is the number 1 section in which we can appreciate how well the available space has been used.

Flats and offices are distributed along the staircase on each floor using the same development layout for the “duplex” stairs in the top floor.

The second stair in the flats goes to the roof above the lift, beside next to where the technical space is.

ALFONSO CASCON


I would like to start this writing telling you I am a practical architect, it is quite difficult for me to speak about something I’ve done without a huge sense of reality.

I haven’t spoken about “how light spills through a window”, or about “a space full of colorful abstraction” for 28 years – since my school days. This kind of speech now sounds to me just like poetry, (I respect poetry but it is not my business).

It’s been a long time since I realized my work involves just putting together concrete, steel, wood or bricks in a reasonable way to get a building thar people can use in a proper way.

So, I propose you to have a look at this project, built in 2008 whose main difficulty came from the dense brief the client asked me for, in a site with only 150 m2., a four storey bulding with 2 flats, 2 offices 1 store and 5 parkings.

To understand the development of the project the main plan we’ve to focus on is the number 1 section in which we can appreciate how well the available space.has been used.

Flats and offices are distributed along the staircase in every floor using the same development for the “duplex” stairs in the top floor.

The second stair in the flats goes to the roof above the lift, beside the technical space.