According to BIG’s winning scheme (the first projected by his Danish studio in Spain), the design was inspired by the habitual use of awnings in the streets and small squares of the city to reduce radiation thanks to the shade they produce. The proposal covers the entire project site in a cloud of solar canopies sheltering the research building, its plaza, and its gardens.
The canopies are composed of square lightweight PV sheets supported by a “forest” of slender columns, creating a roof form that steps down from the centre towards the site’s perimeter.
Beneath the canopy, the building sits diagonally (45º) on the rectangular site to more naturally connect with the riverfront and market promenades. The diagonal form further serves to create two outdoor spaces on either side of the building’s length: one for the public and one exclusively for the building occupants.
The canopies are composed of square lightweight PV sheets supported by a “forest” of slender columns, creating a roof form that steps down from the centre towards the site’s perimeter.
Beneath the canopy, the building sits diagonally (45º) on the rectangular site to more naturally connect with the riverfront and market promenades. The diagonal form further serves to create two outdoor spaces on either side of the building’s length: one for the public and one exclusively for the building occupants.
"With our design for the Joint Research Centre in Seville, more than anything, we have attempted to allow the sustainable performance of the building to drive an architectural aesthetic that not only makes the building perform better but also makes it more inhabitable and more beautiful - a new Andalusian environmental vernacular."
"Having started my studies as an architect in Andalusia and later returning to ETSAB in Barcelona, to now having a 50-person BIG office in Barcelona, this project feels like coming full circle."
"Having started my studies as an architect in Andalusia and later returning to ETSAB in Barcelona, to now having a 50-person BIG office in Barcelona, this project feels like coming full circle."
Bjarke Ingels about the proposal.
New Joint Research Center for the European Commission in Seville. Solar Cupola by BIG. Rendering by Play-Time.
Axonometry. New Joint Research Center for the European Commission in Seville by BIG.
Project description by BIG
BIG’s design proposal for the Joint Research Centre in Seville inspired by the architectural vernacular of the southern Spanish city, delivers on JRC’s commitment to sustainability, unites the European vision of the New Bauhaus initiative, and establishes a new benchmark for the workspace that empowers knowledge sharing, collaboration and co-creation.
Located at the former Sevilla EXPO ´92 site, in Isla de la Cartuja, the new 9900 m2 building for the European Commission, ties into the City of Sevilla’s goal to become a global benchmark for sustainability by 2025 and the local vision of the eCitySevilla project to decarbonize and transition Isla de la Cartuja to 100% renewable energy sources. The JRC building will house 12 research units and supporting functions as well as public and private outdoor spaces. The international design competition kicked off in 2021 with 66 offices competing for the project, expected to break ground in 2024.
“We are extremely excited to announce this incredible design for the new JRC site in Seville as we launch the New European Bauhaus Lab. The” “NEB Lab” aims to create enabling conditions for the green transition and drive tangible transformation on the ground. The new building for the JRC Seville site is the ideal opportunity for us to “walk the talk. The future building will be one of the first examples of architecture entirely inspired by the values of the New European Bauhaus, while achieving maximum energy efficiency and life cycle sustainability, an issue of outmost importance today.”
Stephen Quest, JRC Director-General.
Inspired by the shaded plazas and streets of Seville, BIG proposes to cover the entire project site with a cloud of solar canopies sheltering the plaza, garden, and research building underneath, akin to the pergolas typical to Seville. The canopies consist of square lightweight PV sheets supported by a forest of slender columns. The roofscape cascades down from the center of the site to a human scale height at its periphery creating a variety of public spaces underneath it.
“With our design for the Joint Research Centre in Seville, more than anything, we have attempted to allow the sustainable performance of the building to drive an architectural aesthetic that not only makes the building perform better but also makes it more inhabitable and more beautiful - a new Andalusian environmental vernacular,” “Having started my studies as an architect in Andalusia and later returning to ETSAB in Barcelona, to now having a 50-person BIG office in Barcelona, this project feels like coming full circle.”
Bjarke Ingels.
Underneath, the new Joint Research Centre building is positioned diagonally across the site to connect the JRC directly to the ‘Jardin Americano’ river-front and the Torre Sevilla market in a seamless continuous public space that is both plaza and promenade. Placing the building diagonally also creates a new public square on one side of the building and a private garden for the JRC community on the other.
The floorplates of the research centre step back as the building ascends, creating a series of terraces, shaded outdoor spaces for breakouts, relaxation, and informal meetings with views of the city.
“When we visited the site in Seville last year and carefully reviewed JRC’s ambitious goals, we realized the potential to not only meet but exceed the requirements of the new JRC by creating a new breed of the building – one that could become a beacon for sustainability, the future of public space and work environment - a single system tailored to Seville’s social and physical vernacular.”
Joao Albuquerque, Partner, BIG Barcelona.
Inside, the functions of the new JRC building are organized with public programs and amenities such as dining, a conference center and social spaces on the ground floor, while the offices and research units occupy the upper floors for privacy and security. The collaborative workplaces face the plaza, while the deep-focus workspaces face the garden. The proposed layout is designed to be entirely flexible and adaptable according to any future needs of the JRC.
Following the building geometry and modularity two diagonal voids connect all levels of the building, encouraging physical movement as well as social interaction and informal meetings. JRC staff and visitors will be more likely to take the stairs, increasing the chance of meetings and encounters between colleagues.
The passive design of the building through its shallow floorplate and constant shading under the pergola cloud enables natural cross ventilation and ideal light qualities, reducing the energy consumption typically used on artificial lightening, air conditioning and mechanical ventilation.
The design prioritizes locally sourced materials, such as limestone, wood, and ceramic tiling. The building structure is low-carbon concrete, reducing up to 30% of typical CO2 emissions, while the pergola cloud is made from recycled steel. Gardens, greenery from the region, and water elements in the outdoor environment seek to reduce/eliminate the heat island effect and create a comfortable microclimate.
