I must confess I was really impressed when I saw those huge tile-cladded one-piece-high concrete panels. My doubt was whether they managed to resolve those panels that included windows in the same way? The joints between them seem to express that.
Sauerbruch Hutton, as always, please us with their magnificent architecture, accurate construction, and a sensitive and warm colour palette that fits the surroundings perfectly.
Look at the interesting brickwork they have developed in this project. Its geometry, enhanced by the different colours, decomposes the brickwork wall into a pixelated surface, an abstract texture where each pixel projects shadow over the wall itself.
The ceramist Cumella produces this elegant ceramic cladding, according to a design that evokes traditional wooden-slat sun-protections in Barcelona.
Even though the cladding evokes slats, it is not a sun filtering element; it is an outer layer of a rain screen façade that, intermittently, encloses the building either passing close to the wall or liberating an external open space. This depends on functional requirements.
This residential building is an example of our nowadays most common way of building, not only in terms of the materials and systems being used, which we consider appropriate, but also in terms of the lack of precision in the execution.
We want to draw particular attention to the indefiniteness of the drainage space behind the ceramic outer layer. How different from the drawings is the execution!! Fortunately, the horizontal joints are overlapped.
Unlike stone, pressed ceramic tiles or any kind of artificial panels of board type, extruded terracotta elements can easily be three-dimensional, due to the manufacturing process. Unfortunately architects do not always take advantage of this possibility, even though terracotta is a common material in façade claddings. Here is a good example of its 3D possibilities!
And observe these difficult corners where three-dimensional elements can show their hollowness! A good challenge!
From a constructional point of view, this façade solution is quite similar to the one which the same architects have used in the office building in 22@. We just want to highlight the effectiveness that these mouldings may have if we compare them to those used in the building mentioned previously.
Have a look to the study of Profiled metal sheets for the free design of continuous enclosures for more information about the technical approach and the video that Hector Orozco sent us for the sensitive view!
An exciting challenge by Mecanotubo.
Building construction in the second half of the twentieth century, up to the start of the twenty-first century in Spain due to restrictions on inventiveness imposed by regulations, is characterized by a proliferation of systems for the blind area of façade. All of them are supported as systems by the industry and tend to be prefabricated, dry assembled and fixed.
This could not be more adequate.
It is wise in the decision of being discreet, and acute in the selection of all systems and materials. The expertise of the architects as constructors is shown in the accurate design of all the points of relation between the systems and elements.
In the façade solution of this building we want to draw attention to two factors: