Modular cultural center. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop
30/06/2021.
[Muharraq] Bahrain
metalocus, LUCÍA SERRANO
metalocus, LUCÍA SERRANO
The building designed by Studio Anne Holtrop located in the city of Muharraq, in Bahrain, raises a reflection on the corporeity and tectonicity of architecture expressed through an almost archaic facade. It is a cultural center where the Shaikh Ebrahim art collection is collected.
The architecture firm has offices in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Muharraq in Bahrain, a place that is often described as an open Middle East due to the combination of modernity and Persian.
The architecture firm has offices in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Muharraq in Bahrain, a place that is often described as an open Middle East due to the combination of modernity and Persian.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop. Photograph by Anne Holtrop.
Site plan. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Ground floor plan. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
First floor plan. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Second floor plan. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Third floor plan. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Section A. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Section B. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Elevations. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Detailed section. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Detailed plan. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Concrete modules. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Model. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Model. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Constructive process. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Constructive process. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Constructive process. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Constructive process. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Constructive process. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Constructive process. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Constructive process. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Constructive process. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Constructive process. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Constructive process. Green Corner Building by Studio Anne Holtrop.
Studio Anne Holtrop team proposes a cultural building that is characterized by a facade of concrete modules, structural wall elements molded in sand with a strong relief, whose modulation leaves gaps between them that facilitate the access of natural light to the interior, made with large shutters.
The construction is communicated by an inner core that joins two identical rooms, the building configuration is longitudinal with a long façade and two shorter ones that accentuate the narrowness of the general volume and accentuate the relief, like a geological cut in the ground.
The construction is communicated by an inner core that joins two identical rooms, the building configuration is longitudinal with a long façade and two shorter ones that accentuate the narrowness of the general volume and accentuate the relief, like a geological cut in the ground.
Description of project by Studio Anne Holtrop
The buildings floor plan consists of two identical sized rooms and a core in between. The plan is very shallow in depth and has one long main facade with two short end facades. With the shallow depth of the plan, the facade itself is the main spatial element.
The facade is made out of sand casted structural wall elements with a strong relief. The elements are casted on the ground next to the building. Each cast results in a unique imprint on the element. At the position of the windows and the corners of the building, the relief is visible, as a geological cut in the ground.
On the interior the sand casting is repeated in the concrete floor slabs, which are made in the same way. In front of the windows large shutters can be moved. The shutters (and the entrance door) are made out of sand casted aluminium with the relief facing towards the interior. Contrary to the concrete elements, the aluminium sand casts are hollow. Through the windows, the interior of the casts can be seen.
The Green Corner building takes it name from an existing corner with a vertical garden designed by Patrick Blanc. The building will be build against a parking, designed by Christian Kerez.
More information
Architects
Collaborators
Maitham Almubarak, Dario Biscaro, Pedro Henriques, Edoardo Massa, Massimiliano Marcorni, Yuiko Shigeta, Remco Siebring, Carlotta Testa.
Consultant.- Art Foundry Kemner.
Client
Sheikh Ebrahim Center.
Builder
GCT.
Area
1,190 sqm.
Dates
Project year.- 2018-19.
Realization.- 2019-20.
Manufacturers
Structural engineer.- Mario Monotti.
Local engineer.- Ismail Khonji Associates.
Aluminium casting.- Art Foundry Kemner.
Location
35 Green Corner Building. Al Muharraq, Bahrain.
Photography
ANNE HOLTROP
Anne Holtrop (b. 1977, Netherlands) lives and works in Amsterdam and graduated with distinction from the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture in 2005. He started his own architectural practice in 2009. Currently, the studios are based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Muharraq, Bahrain. In 2015, the first two major buildings designed by the Studio, Museum Fort Vechten and the National Pavilion of the Kingdom of Bahrain, were completed.
For his work he received several grants from the Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture. In 2016, he was awarded the Iakov Chernikhov International Prize, in 2008 he was awarded the Charlotte Köhler Prize for Architecture by the Prince Bernhard Cultural Foundation. Besides his work as an architect, he is an editor of the independent architectural journal OASE, visiting lecturer and external critic at various art and architecture academies and founder of INSIDE.
The Studio is currently working on new stores worldwide for Maison Margiela with the first one due to open on Bruton Street, London this year; an exhibition pavilion for CERN in France, and several UNESCO-listed heritage buildings in Bahrain: Murad Boutique Hotel, Siyadi Pearl Museum and the Qaysariya Suq.
For his work he received several grants from the Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture. In 2016, he was awarded the Iakov Chernikhov International Prize, in 2008 he was awarded the Charlotte Köhler Prize for Architecture by the Prince Bernhard Cultural Foundation. Besides his work as an architect, he is an editor of the independent architectural journal OASE, visiting lecturer and external critic at various art and architecture academies and founder of INSIDE.
The Studio is currently working on new stores worldwide for Maison Margiela with the first one due to open on Bruton Street, London this year; an exhibition pavilion for CERN in France, and several UNESCO-listed heritage buildings in Bahrain: Murad Boutique Hotel, Siyadi Pearl Museum and the Qaysariya Suq.
