Incube Building by Romera y Ruiz Architects

Description of the projects by Romera y Ruiz Architects

Logical reaction to the surroundings, to the economic context (crisis) and social context (peripheral neighborhood in a ravine); to the climate (over-­‐exposed latitude to UV rays); to the requirements of the developer: construction completion from august to december, in-­‐fill of an urban block in a plot of 43,20x13 meters, physical connection to levels of the existing building to the north.

Units of 1.35m slices, optimum dimension for the required quick completion and conforming minimum functional working modules. Use of prefabricated elements and available local materials and construction technology (concrete, aluminium and glass).

Outside and inside interrelations, search of natural diffuse light, suitable for working environments; taking advantage of natural cross-­‐air ventilation produced by the gentle local breeze The Alisio, natural free air conditioning that only needs appropriate entrance and exit points; the heavier thermal mass front , without conductivity, to the west, ventilated facade to the south. Inhabited facade configured with balcony­-patios like an extension of the workplace, which bringing added value to the project, feeling of expansion and relating with other working units. Opaque facade, protected with self projected shadows. The interior temperature is 5 to 8ºC lower than the exterior, with no energy use. The building responds to the annual temperature variations, for example, it maintains a comfortable temperature for three days of heat haze (Calima).

Putting into value functional relations, investigating flexible arrangements and adequate relation between programme and spatial quality. Equilibrate the minimum usable surfaces to m3 spatiality. Incorporation of diagonal relations, to offer the programme assumed dynamism to these incubators for young entrepreneurs.

The result is a contrast between the gravity of the exterior and the lightness of the interior. Between the projected skin shades and the contained interior lights. A game between materials and space in different levels of texture of shadow and light.