AGi architects wins the contest for the extension of the Municipal Archive of Castilfalé
01/02/2022.
[Castilfalé - Burgos] Spain
metalocus, JAVIER ARIAS
metalocus, JAVIER ARIAS
Project description by AGi architects
The proposal by AGi architects, winner of the "Project Contest for the drafting of the Project and Management of the extension works of the Municipal Archive of Castilfalé", has faced several creative challenges, from the contextual, urban, functional and sustainable, to recover the palace, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, as a cultural space on an urban scale, and expand the municipal archive.
Under the guiding concept of building a city, the palace is no longer a historical façade and is integrated into the functioning of the city of Burgos. It is reinvented as an urban route for walkers, generating an educational space that can be adapted according to the needs of the city. And it is transformed into a new social and cultural urban space for daily use, passable, participatory and open to the public.
On the other hand, the program destined for the archive deposit and its expansion is concentrated in the new building adjoining the palace, where in addition to preserving the documents, the contemporary archive is inserted into society with a vocation for service.
Integration in the environment
The physical definition of the Archive is expressed as an opaque volume that complements the façade of the Palace. The proposal makes a material link with the urban context through a dialogue with the Cathedral, the activation of the corner and the continuation of Fernán González street.
A base design in stone and wood is proposed that dialogues with the materials of the Palace. On this base, two superimposed levels are developed with a stepped profile that articulates the new corner volume.
The materiality in brick or stone that surrounds an extrados of great thermal insulation, contributes to creating an efficient thermal mass that allows the Passivhaus standard to be achieved in the new archive building.
New uses in the Palace
The different cultural activities are proposed as specific experiences on each floor of the Palace. Thus, the ground floor hosts representative activity, holding events, conferences and concerts. The first floor will gather the didactic activity, through different multipurpose classrooms. The second floor will host the museum activity and the fourth floor the Archive activity, with research and consultation rooms for employees and researchers.
The international design firm AGi architects was founded in 2006 by two young architects educated at Harvard University, Joaquín Pérez-Goicoechea and Nasser B. Abulhasan.
With a noticeable international character and a multidisciplinary focus, AGi architects offers a professional service emphasizing quality,creativity and exclusive design. AGi has a vision to create environments that create a lasting value for clients through distinctive and imaginative solutions. At present, the studio has offices in Kuwait and Madrid, with a team comprised of more than 50 professionals.
The studio's architecture is based on four founding pillars: innovation, an inherent life component, ecological and social interventions andresearch. AGi architects provide comprehensive services in architecture, urban planning and design, interior design, research, consultancy and complementary services.
Among the latest acknowledgements for AGi architects are a nomination for the EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture-Mies van der Rohe Award 2015, "Highly Commended" at WAF 2015, four WAF Awards (2014, 2013, 2011 and 2010 editions), ten Middle East Architect Awards(2015, 2014, 2013 & 2012), two mentions at MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards 2012, and various awards granted in the last editions of Cityscape Awards and International Property Awards, amongst other prizes.
Joaquín Pérez- Goicoechea and Nasser B. Abulhasan.