ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda
09/11/2017.
[Lusaka] Zambia
metalocus, ÁNGEL BLANCO
metalocus, ÁNGEL BLANCO
The project build in the city of Lusaka, Zambia, is located in an area with an intensive industrial activity.
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda. Photograph © Jesús Granada
Model. ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda.
Site photograph. ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda.
Grounf and first floor plan. ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda.
Sections. ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda.
Elevation. ZM Operations Building by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda.
The design by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda architects proposes a square building, abstract, and built with a sheet metal facade formed by large Z-sections of aluminum refers to the industrial environment while reacting to the reflections and brightness of its nearby environment. The building is designed with different elevations, according to its position in the plot and the interior program. The set is a clear and quiet volume, which stands out against the movement of trucks from abroad.
Description of project by Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda
The ZM Operations Building is located in the southwest corner of a fuel tank terminal in the industrial district of Lusaka, Zambia. An intense and chaotic traffic of trucks, vans and bicycles runs along the unpaved road that gives access to the plot. The dynamic activity of this pathway becomes visible inside the plot through a permeable fence. The project aims to open the parcel to the street and back, showing its activity towards the exterior.
The building is a squared floor block which alternates opaque and transparent facades, placing each lining in contiguous faces. As a result, the vision areas are on the East-West axis on the ground floor, while on the first floor they are aligned according to the North-South axis. The resulting elevations offer large opaque fronts on the access sides, and largely glazed fronts in the adjacent elevations to illuminate the workspaces. On the ground floor, two platforms generated by the setback of the glass façade are projected, while on the first floor these glass fronts offer a terrace that can be used for informal meetings.
On the ground floor, compression occurs, and the sight is focused on the immediate environment. The view from the upper level is focused on the fuel terminal on one side and to the adjacent road on the other. The views from this floor are connected with the horizon rather than with the immediate environment.
An enclosure formed by large Z-sections of aluminum refers to the industrial environment while reacting to the reflections and brightness of its nearby environment. The stormy weather of Lusaka makes the perception of the building very changeable. In a matter of minutes, the structure may be outlined against an intense blue sky emphasizing its vibrant skin or may be blurred in the heavy gray of storm clouds.
The surrounding vegetation is proposed as a transitional space between the industrial environment and workspace. The building is located next to a large tree located in the southwest corner which articulates the area around the building and gives it a more welcoming and friendly quality, linked with the exuberant nature of the country.
More information
Architects
Marcelo Ruiz Pardo (Ruiz Pardo-Nebreda)
Collaborators
Quantity surveyor.- Sonia Nebreda (Ruiz Pardo - Nebreda). Arturo Alberquilla, Loreto Moreno, Javier E. Lecumberrri. Structures.- MECHANISM. Facilities.- JG Ingenieros. Facades.- ARUP. Local control.- CIVILSTRUTS
Developer
PUMA ENERGY ZAMBIA
Builder Company
FLAME
Area
1,500 m²
Dates
Completed.- March 15th, 2016
Marcelo Ruiz Pardo, Sonia Nebreda Martín. RUIZ PARDO - NEBREDA
Ruiz Pardo – Nebreda is a Madrid-based architecture practice founded in 2011. They have completed works in Puerto Rico, Namibia, Paraguay, Zambia, El Salvador and Spain, and it has been exhibited in International Biennials of Architecture in Argentina, El Salvador and Ecuador, as well as in collective exhibitions of emerging architecture in Japan, Spain, Ireland, and Argentina.
Their work has been recently awarded the German Design Award 2018, the Grand Prize of the XII Biennial of Architecture and Urban Planning of El Salvador (XII BAUES 2016) and withthe Luis M. Mansilla Award 2016 givenbythe Madrid Association of Architects (COAM), forthe Puma Energy El Salvador Headquarters. Thisproject has also been finalist the World Architecture Festival (WAF 2016) and at the Architizer Awards (A+ Awards 2016). They have also obtained a Bronze Prize at the American Architecture Prize (AAP 2016) forthe ZM Operations Building in Lusaka, Zambia. They have been finalist at the BD Young Architect of theYear Award 2017 and are actually shortlisted at the A+ Awards 2017.
MARCELO RUIZ PARDO (Granada, 1980) studied architecture at the Madrid School of Architecture (ETSAM). He is Lecturer of Architectural Design at the ETSAM, where he isalso a PhD candidate and a member of several Research Groups, Innovation Teaching Groups and Development Cooperation Groups. He has taught seminars and conferences in international congresses onuniversity teaching.
SONIA NEBREDA MARTÍN (Burgos, 1979) isgraduated in Technical Architecture at the Universidad de Burgos (UBU) and in Building Engineering at the Nebrija University in Madrid. Sheholds a Postgraduate degree in Project Management by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). They have lecture their work at international universities.
Their work has been recently awarded the German Design Award 2018, the Grand Prize of the XII Biennial of Architecture and Urban Planning of El Salvador (XII BAUES 2016) and withthe Luis M. Mansilla Award 2016 givenbythe Madrid Association of Architects (COAM), forthe Puma Energy El Salvador Headquarters. Thisproject has also been finalist the World Architecture Festival (WAF 2016) and at the Architizer Awards (A+ Awards 2016). They have also obtained a Bronze Prize at the American Architecture Prize (AAP 2016) forthe ZM Operations Building in Lusaka, Zambia. They have been finalist at the BD Young Architect of theYear Award 2017 and are actually shortlisted at the A+ Awards 2017.
MARCELO RUIZ PARDO (Granada, 1980) studied architecture at the Madrid School of Architecture (ETSAM). He is Lecturer of Architectural Design at the ETSAM, where he isalso a PhD candidate and a member of several Research Groups, Innovation Teaching Groups and Development Cooperation Groups. He has taught seminars and conferences in international congresses onuniversity teaching.
SONIA NEBREDA MARTÍN (Burgos, 1979) isgraduated in Technical Architecture at the Universidad de Burgos (UBU) and in Building Engineering at the Nebrija University in Madrid. Sheholds a Postgraduate degree in Project Management by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). They have lecture their work at international universities.
