Desert City is a biotechnology greenhouse of xerophytic plants, is a multifunctional center of over 16,000 m², which houses the experimental botanical garden of cacti and other xerophytic species of more than 5.000 m², biotechnology greenhouse specializing in xerophilism, which has I + D, a laboratory and terraces-lookout, among other elements.
The project, Desert City, developed by GarcíaGermán Arquitectos is located on 25 km of the A-1 motorway and has developed as if it were an oasis, in a field limited by this route and the foothills of the Regional Park of the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares.

The building is developed longitudinally, parallel to the road, and is organized following the typology of garden-cloister. The greenhouse has a sophisticated roof and is executed with the latest technology of tensegrity tensioned cables.
 

Description of project by GarcíaGermán Arquitectos

Desert City is a celebration of xerophytic plants and the production of a whole culture of interests and events around them. The project proposes an educational, sustainable and ecological complex in which to overlap activities that range from the exhibiting, growing and breeding of cactus from all over the world in a large garden and greenhouse, to housing an array of leisure activities such as presentations, small conventions, workshops or exhibitions. The large building contains, besides the greenhouse and exhibition/sales space, restaurant, shop, storage, and office areas. These activities are sheltered by a big lightweight container that responds, in terms of scale and materiality, to the near presence of the A-1 Highway. A “billboard-building”, parallel to the road, organized internally by a sequence of symmetries organized around a cloister-like cactus garden, which receives newcomers, and the greenhouse space, covered by a cable roof designed according to the logic of tensegrity structures.

Despite its hybrid program, the complex’s construction is systematized through repetition, modulation and prefabrication of elements, resulting in a huge abstract stretched out skeleton that communicates its intense inner workings and the veiled presence of greenery as seen from the passing car through a tinted, watery glass facade. Construction incorporates sustainable solutions such as transparent photovoltaic glass, geothermal power, water recovery systems, solar controls, and extensive plantings in the site, originally a wasteland.

The overlapping of apparently excluding situations (commercial exploitation of leisure events vs. exemplary “green” business; building as sole infrastructure vs. atmospheric and “soft” finishes; size vs. fragility; oasis by the highway,…), results in a proactive and ingenious initiative suited for times of opportunity.

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Architects
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GARCIAGERMAN ARQUITECTOS
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Project Team
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Jacobo García-Germán, Marta García Jiménez, Laura Carrero, Miguel López, Raquel Díaz de la Campa, Lidia de Lucas, Martha Sosa Dias, Andrea Gutierrez, Victoria Álvarez, Margot Roset, Paula Lizcano, Christina Christofidou, Marta Roldán, Celia Sánchez Ylla
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Collaborators
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Antonio Usero (strategy and management), Mario García (quantity surveyor), Felipe F. Sanz/Consult-E (structural engineer), Úrculo Ingenieros (mechanicals), Arenas Ingenieros (structural engineers greenhouse roof), Lastra & Zorrilla (tecnical development & manufacture ETFE textiles), Patricia Gammichia (landscaping), Ángel Sampedro (mobility project & traffic studies), Alberto Charlez (site manager)
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Contractor
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Isolux Corsán
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Client
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Desert City SL
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Dates
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Construction.- 2015-17
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Venue
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DESERT CITY. Autovía A-1, km. 25. 28708 San Sebastián de los Reyes. Madrid. Spain
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Jacobo García-Germán (1974) is an architect by the Madrid Polytechnic (ETSAM), M.Arch. by the Architectural Association, and PhD European Doctor (cum laude, ETSAM 2010). After collaborating with Rafael Moneo (1998-2001), he established GARCIAGERMAN ARQUITECTOS in 2003.

Since 2005 he is a teacher in the Madrid Polytechnic (ETSAM), currently teaching at the Thesis Group APFC with Professor Juan Herreros, besides co-directing the MPAA Máster y Doctorado en Proyectos Arquitectónicos Avanzados at ETSAM (2015-).

He has taught in different universities in Spain; ETSAM (2005-), Escuela de Arquitectura de Pamplona (2012), Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, Madrid (2011-2014), Universidad Camilo José Cela, Madrid (2003-2004), UPC-La Salle Tarragona (2009), and worldwide; Liubliana Architecture Faculty (2010), Escola da Cidade Sao Paulo (2010), Universidad Javeriana Bogotá (2007-2009), and FeBelCem in Antwerp (2008), having also been visiting critic at Columbia University, NY (2012), Cornell University, NY (2012), Universidad Católica de Lima (2011), IE Instituto de Empresa, Segovia (2011), Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid (2011) Universidad Europea, Madrid (2006-2009) and Architectural Association, London (2005).

He is co-founder of the Symmetries platform for teaching and has directed workshops in Split, Rome and Lisbon. He has been curator for several exhibitions. 

Among the awards obtained by GarciaGerman Architects are: XIV BEAU Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism Award (2018), Mies van der Rohe Finalist of the European Union Architecture Prize (2019), CEMEX Award (2018), Finalist FAD (2018) ), Outstanding Award (2017), Selection of the Enor Prize (2017), FAD Award (2013), Selection of the European Union Architecture Award Mies van der Rohe (2009), First European Prize (2001 and 2009), Awards of the Madrid City Council (2003 and 2007) and EMVS First Prize (2003 and 2004). The work of the office has been widely published and exhibited. Clients: Ministry of Development, Ministry of Finance and Public Administration, Embassies of Spain in Ljubljana, Sofia and Tokyo, Cervantes Institute, EMVS Madrid, UPM-Polytechnic University of Madrid, Government of Cantabria, Madrid City Council, Municipality of Nacka (Stockholm) , Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago), Acciona Inmobiliaria, Reyal Urbis, Eurocís, Isolux Corsán, Gilmar, Ciudalcampo SL. He has been a member of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Pavilion of the XV Biennial of Architecture of Venice 2016 (Golden Lion Award), and currently codirects Architecture, official magazine of the Board of Architects of Madrid (COAM).




 
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Published on: July 21, 2017
Cite: "Desert City. Xerophytic plant greenhouse and garden, ludic-educational programme, by GarciaGerman Arquitectos" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/desert-city-xerophytic-plant-greenhouse-and-garden-ludic-educational-programme-garciagerman-arquitectos> ISSN 1139-6415
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