Dialogue with the memory of the place. Sant Pau Hospital's Research Institute by Pich-Aguilera
27/02/2019.
[BCN] Spain
metalocus, ASIER GOICOECHEA
metalocus, ASIER GOICOECHEA
Description of project by Pich-Aguilera
The new Research Institute of Hospital de Sant Pau is a building conceived as a technological infrastructure with parameters of global sustainability. This gives a high comfort and functionality, an optimal environmental behavior, the reduction of costs and consumptions -both of materials and energy– and an optimal functionality considering the entire life cycle, both of the materials and of the building itself.
The building is organized with clear geometry volumes that act as mediators between the city’s road layout and the hospital, becoming one of its main accesses.
The facade is simple and efficient, based on sandwich panels with good insulation. These panels are protected by a technological ceramic skin as a latticework, with the same chromatic range as the historic pavilions of the modernist hospital. This skin produces a drastic reduction in energy demand (in a building with very significant thermal internal loads). In turn, it allows the entry of natural light and views and guarantees privacy to researchers.
Each floor consists in a rectangle of 80m x 11m without pillars or vertical downspouts, providing great flexibility, flanking an axis of 3m that houses all the fixed elements (stairs, patios, elevators, facilities, bathrooms). These spaces are divided only with screens and partitions, which can be modified with great ease and can berth every 1.25m to the façade without affecting it. These elements allow the building to be easily adapted even to substantial changes in use.
Flows relating the different uses have been carefully studied, in order to place them in the most advantageous situations. The most frequent routes are as short as possible. The incompatible routes are segregated, and it is provided wide interrelation spaces, well lit, allowing group meetings. These measures have allowed us to reduce the planned area by increasing flexibility and maintaining the functional program requested.
The construction systems are dry mounting, both the façade ceramics (Flexbrick), the fiber cement partitions, which allow to avoid supplementary railings and where the installations can be fixed (Euronit), the photocatalytic concrete base to the street that cleans the air of the city (Breinco), the vegetal cover water tank that allows to collect rainwater and use it for irrigation and toilets (Danosa)…
Currently obtaining the LEED Platinum environmental certificate for this building.
Pich-Aguilera Arquitectes. Founded in 1986 by the architects Felipe Pich-Aguilera Baurier and Teresa Batlle Pagés, it focuses mainly on sustainable architecture projects. The effort, in this sense, has led them to develop planning, promote innovation, research and development projects and delve into aspects related to the sustainability of their buildings, basing their work on the principles of the circular economy and reduction of consumption throughout the life cycle of the building. Thus, the study not only focuses on the development of projects but also has transversal areas that take care of quality, innovation and sustainability.
The current complexity and precision of their work have led them to be one of the first firms to incorporate the BIM model into their projects and the ISO9001 certification. Since 2022 Picharchitects/Pich-Aguilera reinforces its national presence with a new office in Madrid to expand its area of activity throughout the national territory. The studio has received numerous awards for architecture and environmental innovation. Among the most recent, it is worth highlighting: 2020 First Prize for “Ascer” architecture for the “Research Center of the Hospital de Sant Pau and la Santa Creu”. 2018 Castilla-La Mancha Sustainable Construction Award for the "Leitat Technology Center"
Felipe Pich-Aguilera Baurier. Doctor architect. Graduated in 1986 by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Speciality in Construction. Member of the Group EASA (European Assembly of Students of Architecture). Participants in the Congresses in Denmark (1984), Greece (1985), and Finland (1987). Founder member of ASF-E, the Association of Architects Without Borders from Spain.
Founder Member of the Young Catalan Architects Association (AJAC) and instigator of the activity “Meetings-Dialogue” in the Association. Founder Member of the Superior School of Architecture of the International University of Catalonia ESARQ/UIC. President of the school councils (1996-1999). Fourth-Grade Professor (since 2008). Professor of architecture and sustainability Fourth-Grade. Director of environmental and industrialisation investigation area. Founder Member of the grouping “AuS” (Architecture and Sustainability) grouping integrated into the School of Catalonia Architects.
President GBC (Spanish president of the International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment and World Green Building Council), from 2008 to 2017. Director of the Chair of industrialized building and environment (CEIM). Member of the Environment of CEMEX. Since 1996, Felipe gives courses and conferences in workshops and masters in Schools of Architecture and institutions related to sustainability in constructive process and respect for the environment in Catalonia, Spain and worldwide.
Teresa Batlle Pagès. Architect. Graduated in 1989 from the School of Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Specialization in services and conditions. Member Group of EASA (European Assembly of Students of Architecture). Attends the Congress of Denmark(1984), Greece (1985), and Finland (1987). Founding member of the Young Architects Association of Catalonia (AJAC). Founding member of the School of Architecture at the International University of Catalonia ESARQ / UIC. Coordinator of Teaching 2nd Cycle Plan (1997-1999). Coordinator of the Professional Council. (1996-1999).
Founding member of the Association AuS, Architecture and Sustainability of the College of Architects of Catalonia. Founding member of the Architecture and Sustainability Association (ASA), driven by the Superior Council of Colleges of Architects of Spain (CSCAE). Member of the Board of the 22 @-network and association of innovative companies with headquarters in the 22 @ Barcelona. Vice President of the association AUS (architecture resources of Catalonia). General Secretary of the association ASA (resources i architecture of Spain). President of the Commission of environment of the association Network22. Coordinator since 1997, round tables and debates on the role of the architect in building the innovation of its processes and systems agreements to a new balance of architecture and its environment.