Plan:b project for the Santo Domingo Savio Kindergarten, awarded in the IX BIAU which took place in Rosario, accepts the topography as part of the design, dealing with it for adapting the new construction to the existing slope. Three differents levels, connected by slopes, avoid the necessity of using dinamite.
Modularity is also one of the strategies of the design, creating differents situations in which house the spaces dedicated to old and young childrens. A terrace with wonderfull views creates the separation between them. It is also remarkable how the project watched from outside contrasts with the surrounding area, letting us know that this is not a construction as the ones which are close to it.
Description of the project by plan:b arquitectos
a. Adaptation to the topography and to the quarter
Set on a steep (22%), and rocky slope, this project chose a modular approach that could adapt to the topography without the use of expensive dynamite to break the existing rocks. For this reason, the project is assembled in two levels that connect through covered ramps. The kindergarten articulates with the neighborhood by seeking to avoid the demolition of existing buildings and by adhering to strict distance and withdrawal regulations.
b. Modularity and growth
A modular strategy consisting of flexible pieces allows us to set the kindergarten around a compact, two-level, head and a longitudinal tail at the top a level. The “head” is occupied by younger children and revolves around an introverted courtyard. The tail, occupied by older children, defines a longitudinal terrace for playing and sightseeing.
c. Materials and finishes
Buildings at the Santo Domingo Quarter are typically self-construction homes in red brick and concrete flat roofs, which allow vertical growth over time. These buildings gradually grow in height and shift their reddish appearance by plaster and paint of different colors that inhabitants enjoy and understand as higher-quality buildings. Given this scenario, we wanted the project to bring to evidence the changes in height, staggering, and the quarter’s geometrical irregularity and diversity, as well as its washed granite finishing in shades of green and blue, seeking that the new infrastructure be readily recognized and at the same time that would organically articulate to the life of the quarter.
Text by.- plan:b arquitectos
CREDITS. DATA SHEET.-
Architects.- plan:b arquitectos.
Project Manager.- Felipe Mesa + Federico Mesa.
Collaborators.- Juan Pablo Giraldo, Juan Camilo Ramírez, Miguel Martos y Carlos Blanco (team), Consorcio Jardín Santo Domingo (constructor).
Location.- Medellín, Colombia.
Date.- 2010-2012.
Built area.- 1.500 m².
plan:b. Since 2000 to 2005, this working group was led by architects Felipe Mesa and Alejandro Bernal, from 2006 until 2010 was led by Felipe Mesa, and is currently led by Felipe Mesa in partnership with Federico Mesa.
The plan:b work is generated primarily through participation in architectural competitions, and collaborating with other professionals in those projects is constant and diverse. Over the years work has been shared with people like Miguel Mesa (Mesa Publishers), Juan David Diez (Taller Estándar), Camilo Restrepo, Giancarlo Mazzanti, Felipe Uribe, Ana Elvira Velez, Izaskun Chinchilla, Hernando Barragan, Maria Jose Sanin and Manuel Villa y Ctrl/G.
Felipe Mesa (n. 04-08-1975 Medellín, Colombia). Architect, Facultad de Arquitectura, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, 1993-1998. Architecture Master: Crítica y Proyecto. Departamento de Proyectos Arquitectónicos, UPC, Barcelona, Spain, 1999-2000.
Founding partner Planb Arquitectos. 2000. www.planbarquitectura.com Lecturer in several schools of architecture in Colombia for many time periods (Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad de los Andes). Guest lecturer to several colleges and architectural events in Europe, U.S and Iberoamércia.
Winner of several public architectural competitions in Colombia. Selected for the exhibition and catalog of BIAU VI (Latin American Biennial of Architecture). Lisboa, 2008. Shortlist for BAL (Latin American Biennial of Architecture) in Pamplona, Spain, 2009.
He has published 4 books: "Acuerdos Parciales" 2007, "Arquitectura en espera" 2009, Archipiélago de arquitectura in 2010 and Escenarios Deportivos 2011. he advocates simultaneous, reflexive and purposeful architecture. He understands the architectural project as intensification and confluence of diverse eco-social forces open and permanent construction.
Federico Mesa (n. 1979 Medellín, Colombia). Architect, Facultad de Arquitectura, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (Honorary Degree). Medellín, Colombia. From 1997 to 2002, he completed graduate studies “Architecture et Philosophie” at the Escuela Nacional Superior of Paris La Villette. France. 2006-2007. He has worked as an architect partner in many offices among which: Giancarlo Mazzanti arquitectos (2002-2003). Bogotá, Colombia. Planb arquitectos (2003-2005). Medellín, Colombia. M.V. arquitectos (2003-2005). Medellín, Colombia. Gaëtan Le Penhuel Architectes (2006-2008). Paris, France. In 2009 he worked as an independent architect desing projects in partnership with other architects.
Currently works as an associate architect of Plan: b Architects in Medellin, Colombia. Parallel has been teaching in the area of theory and history (2002-2005) in the Faculty of Architecture of the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana Medellin, where he currently works as a lecturer in architectural projects.
