Designer / Agency
Miguel Crespo Picot
Categpory
Renovation Architecture
Award
- 2024, Gold Award
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Arts Center of Verin
Project Présentation
¿Great home or small town? Arts center of Verin provides the intimacy of a home and the heterogeneity of a town. The initial approach of the project comes from a previuos study of the environment. From this analysis, we get the conclusion that Concello do Verín stands out by the heterogeneity of its blocks, which have been developed around an urban nucleus. Even though each block has different shapes, the way they are set is the same in most of them. This occupation is based in many small buildings that are aligned with the edges of the patchs, standing next to the road and leaving gaps to the interiors for common spaces, grouped in this way, into small communities or ‘towns’ within the whole Verin. ‘Towns’ with a random order that are being defined by the flexibility of its uses. This project is a Centre of Arts where the fact that each use works by its own way but on balance is emphasized. The example we follow is the scheme abovementioned, where each unit works independently to the exterior and in conjunction to the interior, not initerfering with others. This basic premise involve the concept of the proporsal. Each use of the program required by the City Hall materializes as a unit, as a volume that is aligned to the edge of the plot creating a space of coexistence and relationship, without hierarchies, supporting the idea of small community. Once comes to this point, we reach the conclusion that it is impossible to avoid the relations between the different uses, so respecting the scheme of individual volumes to the exterior and common space to the interior, the units are sliding according to its use and leting intersticial spaces appear. The Centre of Arts turns into a space of convivence of different activities, an special place where its units works as separate ‘houses’ and as ‘town’ all together. Formally the design method is surprisingly accurate. The displacement and delicate turn of volumes generates a random appearance scheme but full of relationships and variants. It is a place defined by its own flexibility, unpredictable. Something involuntary that occurs as a result of the relationships of their own uses. Between volumes irregular spaces arise as a cell, places of different scales that allow users enjoy rooms center and hide at once. Like a small town, center users interpret and live spaces freely and at will. They walk from one side to another, seeking privacy behind a corner or leave, are left to see and relate. In conlusion, this scheme make separation and conexion of the units compatible, generating numerous nucleous that interact and change depending on the use of its ocupants. The general aspect is filled by ‘the fifth façade’ of the building, the deck. In this case, it is made of green cover. Despite of the simplicity of its construction ( concrete and glass volumes), the centre has a outstanding character, withot dismissing the environment it is set and taking care about the scale (size and height) with the surrondings. Due to the way it is set in the plan, and the independence of its use, this is a centre that can be changed and expanded easily, because both appearance and operation are unalterable. Talking about the access, the visitor could entry through a large square in the corner where the three main roads conclude. A walk that will continue inside the building to enhance the idea of ‘town’. In addition, everytime that the volumes contact with the edge of the patch, some common spaces are generate, at the same time of exterior access of each volum is created. The last remarkable aspect of the building is its sustainable manner, due to the materials in the urban land (Green spaces and reciclable pavement) and the installations, that allows energy and water savings.
Designed by Miguel Crespo Picot
Zooco is an architectural studio founded in 2009 by Miguel Crespo Picot, Javier Guzmán Benito and Sixto Martín Martínez, architects by the School of Architecture of Madrid. The study covers a wide spectrum from the design perspective. From large-scale building to furniture design. The adapted solutions to the client and their needs, and the use of a timeless language, are the hallmarks of a studio in permanent search of new challenges. Currently, we have offices in Madrid and Santander, where we develop projects both nationally and internationally. The work during these ten years covers more than 50 works published in national and international specialized media, some of which have been recognized in various awards such as the prestigious Design Vanguard 2019, NAN Construction 2019 + 2020, Frame Awards 2020, or the European 40 under 40 2020. Recently, Zooco has been chosen by Forbes magazine as one of the 100 most creative Spanish people in the business world. Our philosophy consists into approach any type of assignment, regardless of its scale, budget and program, with the same attitude and creative ambition. Applying the same process searching the most appropriate and valuable solution, both from an artistic and functional point of view. In a world as changing and fleeting as today, we look for architectural and spatial solutions that stand the pass of time, that endure through the constant irruption of trends and fashions, which is the phenomena that cause an immediate expiration of most creative proposals. One of our main objectives is to present design as an added value. We support the client throughout the process of creation and construction of the project, from the first contact until the start-up of the business, advising on all aspects that interfere in the final result.