Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach
01/03/2013.
By Espinet/Ubach arquitectes. [BCN] Spain
metalocus, SERGIO CIDONCHA via Pati Núñez Agency
metalocus, SERGIO CIDONCHA via Pati Núñez Agency
We continue teaching the good architecture that is being designed to the children of the home, the nursery. Today we bring another example of a good project, in this case Espinet/Ubach architects had to solve many urban exigencies, but it seems that their effort was worthwhile.
Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Detail of facade of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Detail of facade of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Detail of facade of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Detail of facade of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Interior view of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Interior view of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Interior view of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Interior view of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Interior view of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Interior view of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Interior view of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Interior view of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Site plan, Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach.
Ground floor, Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach.
First floor, Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach.
Roof plan, Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach.
Northeast elevation, Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach.
Northwest elevation, Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach.
Southwest elevation, Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach.
Longitudinal and cross sections, Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach.
Longitudinal and cross sections, Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach.
Axonometría explotada, Guardería Xiroi por Espinet/Ubach arquitectes.
Exploited axonometry, Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach.
Constructive details of the facade, Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach.
Detail of facade of Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
Kindergarten Xiroi by Espinet/Ubach. Photography © Pegenaute.
A project where color is an important factor as it defines the nursery, in the exterior defined by a perforated plate with a variety of colors and in the interior where the children put the color with their own activity...
Memory of project
The kindergarten "Xiroi", municipal facility recently opened in Barcelona, is a mutant building. Its unique location in a strange and meager site, created as a result of urban planning, made us resolve its many needs with limited resources.
The shape of the construction site, an irregular triangle in the axis of the street, opened a debate on the shape of the volume and how it should be perceived from the outside. The solution lies in having one layer within another.
In its interior, the school´s closed volume provides the different functions in 3 levels (which is unusual in these facilities) served by another 3 areas for the children to play. On the ground floor there is a garden facing the street, on the first floor there is a multipurpose room and on the second floor there is a terrace for outdoor play. All these spaces, protected from the exterior, must remain isolated from direct views and have a high security level.
From the outside the micro perforated plate of various colors blends with the vegetation of the future park while creating an image of homogeneity of the building. Thus, the triangular polyhedron accepts irregular limits following the functionality of its interior use, putting an accent, seemed somewhat necessary, the urban perspectives of this small site.
The colored plate allows this building to be changing, mutating throughout the day since its transparencies and visual games generate surprising, unexpected effects. Depending on the effect of light on the façade, according to the time of the day, the school blends in a different way with its surrounding, either shines, or turns opaque, or it opens up with its transparencies...
The color concentrates in the exterior, in the perforated skin. The green, ocher and brown shades, extracted from the vegetation itself, get mixed up with the trees and vegetation from the park. In the interior, the colors come from the children and their own activity. Their backpacks, toys and hand crafted works paint with color the white classrooms. The only distinctive element is the stairway that connects the three floors, covered with highly resistant yellow boards.
The new triangular polyhedron of Europa Street is being integrated in its neighborhood. The edges and soft colors of its façade are beginning to belong to this strange location in the center of the city.
Text: ESPINET/UBACH Arquitectes i associats.
CREDITS.-
Architects.- Miquel Espinet and Antoni Ubach.
Team collaborators.- Berta Grau, Ana Stakic, Josep Mª Navarrete; Enric Aguilera (quantity surveyor), AREA 5 (structures), PAMIAS (facilities provider), Toni Miserachs (graphics advisory ); Muntatges PIDEMUNT (Facade).
Promoter.- Consorci d’Educació de Barcelona.
Builder.- AGRO-CGN.
Date.- 2009-2011.
Project.- Kindergarten Xiroi.
Surface.- 1.087m².
Budget.- 1.642.840 € (PEM).
Site.- Europa 41, Barcelona. Spain.
More information
ARQUITECTES ESPINET/UBACH
Espinet/Ubach arquitectes was founded in Barcelona in 1976 and leads it by Miquel Espinet and Antoni Ubach, their work is based on social commitment, cultural, technological innovation, respect for the environment and functionality.
Espinet/Ubach have a long history in the design of public buildings, educational and cultural facilities.
Miquel Espinet i Mestre (1948, Lleida) is architect from the School of Architecture of Barcelona. He is Senior Lecturer in Projects III, The EINA School of Design, affiliated with the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He was President of the Awards Jury City to City Barcelona FAD Award 2010. He was Director of the EINA School of Design (Autonomous University of Barcelona) from 1984 to 1996, He has been a Visiting Professor of Architecture Project at several architecture schools in Europe and America.
Antoni Ubach i Nuet (1944, Barcelona) is architect from the School of Architecture of Barcelona, Doctor in Architecture from The Polytechnic University of Catalonia and Professor of Architecture Projects at the Barcelona School of Architecture. Head Speaker at the VIII Congress of Architecture of Panama. Member of the Coordination Board of the UIA Congress in Barcelona. Founder and Vice President of the Caixa d’Arquitectes (savings bank) until 2001.
