Light transforms and decorates. "La casa de la Luz" / The House of Light, by b720 architects
28/03/2022.
Madrid] Spain
metalocus, CARLOS RUBIO
metalocus, CARLOS RUBIO
Description of project by b720 architects
The House of light which will soon open its doors in Madrid is the new flagship of the multinational, located on the ground floor of the emblematic architectural complex known as the "Oasis". The space has been rehabilitated by the b720 architect's studio headed by Fermín Vázquez, respecting the original splendor of the work of renowned architect Fernando Higueras, representative of the most innovative and risky brutalist current of his time. Fermín Vázquez comments "I think the choice of this building is perfect since it is one of the great heritages of modernity and an architectural emblem that looks to the future, very much in tune with Simon's vision".
The space comprises 1,600 square meters including Simon's commercial offices and is distributed over two floors whose interior design has been carried out by the industrial designer and interior designer Antoni Arola, a regular collaborator of the firm. Arola emphasizes “The furniture is an evolution, an improvement, and adaptation of what we have been working with Simon in recent years. Solid wood for the people and stainless steel for the products to be displayed”.
Also, an important element to highlight in this building is its vertical gardens, one of the first in Europe, and a hallmark of the building, with vegetation that does not hide but rather integrates.
Simon, together with Arola, have wanted to recreate the original project inside through studied landscaping that has allowed the vegetation to be illuminated with artificial light to generate images of the very near future.
With this new space, Simon takes another step in its purpose of being closer to people and seeks to project in a more specific way the potential of Digital Light and how the company wants to be present in this new era of lighting. "It is a project where light is the protagonist and we have used the most innovative technology to project our vision of light," says Inma Ruiz, Chief Marketing Officer at Simon and adds Salvi Plaja, Design & Sustainability Director at Simon “I strongly believe in the potential of design within the company to humanize it and generate value. Design naturally integrates creativity, thinking about people and a vision of the future”.
In relation to this vision, ProtoPixel, Simon's technological partner whose digital platform allows creating, deploying, and controlling any lighting experience, has also been one of the outstanding collaborators in this great project that together with Antoni Arola have designed the lighting, atmospheres, and uses from space. According to Sebastián Mealla, CEO and Co-founder of ProtoPixel: "technology is the facilitator of the creative process that is always in progress, it helps to democratize lighting and that its benefits have an impact on people's daily lives".
The House of Light is open to all audiences, both professionals and end-users, who will have the opportunity to be inspired and feel how light transforms and decorates spaces; a place where they can also learn about the latest product news, attend conferences and training sessions, a meeting point for all creative and entrepreneurial communities who want to exchange ideas and promote co-creation projects with light.
In short, this project sets the standard for the firm's vision of the future, showing itself to be at the forefront of everything related to the culture of light, from the technological, industrial, conceptual, and emotional fields.
Fermín Vázquez Huarte-Mendicoa (Madrid, 1961) architect since 1988. He studied at ETSAM (Madrid) and ETSAB (Barcelona). He leads b720 Fermín Vázquez Architects, which he set up with Ana Bassat in 1997, with offices in Barcelona, Madrid, Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre.
b720 is an international studio. It works globally within its offices in Brasil and Spain, in projects located in a dozen of differents countries.
The work of the studio, which has been showed in several events and museums as the Biennal of Venice, the Cité of París and MoMA of NY, has been awarded nationally and internationally with several prizes, among there are two RIBA Awards, a World Architecture Festival award, four awards ASPRIMA-SIMA, the Emporis Skyscraper Award and the European Public Urban Space award.
Among his best-known projects there are the Agbar Tower -with Jean Nouvel Architectures-, Lérida's airport, the Plaza del Torico in Teruel, La Mola Conference Centre in Barcelona, the City of Justice of Barcelona and the building for de America Cup in Valencia -both with David Chipperfield Architects- and the Gran Casino Costa Brava in Lloret de Mar. Currently working, among other projects, on the new Mercat dels Encants in Barcelona, the new international airport of Cuzco in Perú, the regeneration of the Waterfront of Cais Mauá of Porto Alegre, a new neighbourhood for 70.000 residents in Brasilia and in several high buildings in Sao Paulo.
He usually combines the proffesional practise with teaching. He has been teacher at ETSAB, at l'École d'Architecture et Paysage de Burdeos, at Universidad Europea de Madrid and he has given courses and conferences large universities and institutions all over the world.