Located in Cordoda’s downtown area, the second prize winning design for the Veracruz Architects Association’s new headquarters takes advantage of the existing topography. Designed by lab07 + JMV Architects, one of the main features of the project is to break the scheme of close institutional buildings to its immediate context, to become a built space that opens to the city, creating public space between the building and the urban grid. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The Veracruz Architects Association launched a design competition for its new headquarters in Cordoba, Veracruz. The program consists of offices, a conference room, a multipurpose room and parking area. The site is located in Cordoba’s downtown area, the poligonal’s complex geometry as well as the steep slope adds some extra limits to the project.
Despite the constraints of the site, a small budget led us to rethink the strategies in order to meet all the requirements and needs. Thus the project digs the mínimum while taking advantage of the existing topography.
One of the main features of the project is to break the scheme of close institutional buildings to its immediate context, to become a built space that opens to the city, creating public space between the building and the urban grid.
The public square becomes an urban vestibule that works as the medular zone that connects the various interior spaces. The project is characterized by a complete accessibility; having ramps and stairways.
Formally, instead of placing the volumes on top of each other, the east and west faces of the volumen slide to the north and south, the operation results in a favorable positioning and porosity; improving the performance and flexibility of the institution.
Furthermore, the structural design takes into account the low budget by reducing the columness areas without compromising the geometry of the space.
The total area of the building comprises 221 m2, retaining 36% of the property for public and exterior areas, used finishes allow collection of rainwater for aquifers’ recharging.
The parking area is divided into two parts to optimize the unbuilt area. The first part, with 6 spaces, the second with 1 and bicycle’s area, encouraging the use of public and/or clean transportation.
Thus, it achieves an integral efficiency that not only meets the needs of users, but those of the city; providing public space and contributing to a better performance.
Architects: lab07 + JMV Architects Location: Córdoba, Veracruz, México Architects in Charge: Carlos Marín, José Muñoz-Villers Project Area: 298 m2 Project Year: 2012
