New Headquarters iGuzzini Illuminazione España by Josep Miàs

New iGuzzini Illuminazione España headquarters in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, now into operation. Exhibition of the designing process and construction with models, videos and drawings at the underground showroom area.

The building will be featured in a lecture by Josep Miàs at The Bartlett UCL London the 7th of december, 2011.

Il Cielo iGuzzini does not belong to the ground on which it sits. Like a balloon, Leonidov’s aerostat, it will attempt to escape from this world, seeking a new sky. It will describe the conditions of the light, natural and artificial, in its interior, it will refer to its origins, recognizing a geometric order, but above all it will want to speak to us of aspirations.

Moored to the ground, it belongs to this place, and to all other places.

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In reality there are forms that can only be drawn once, buildings that can only be built once. The second time is a replica. We believe in this opportunity for iGuzzini. Because this form, imperfect, slightly deformed, belongs to the world of iGuzzini; its identification is easy, and not everyone can, with authority, appropriate this profile, this geometry.

A light, a big world, a big atrium around a shared central court... where the sense of belonging is proudly made explicit.

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Il Cielo iGuzzini does not seek to boast of explicit technological innovation, since that would soon date it as new technologies rapidly superseded its own content. But it does seek to be an example of current development towards well understood sustainability in both technological and energy terms.

Our proposal seeks to exemplify, in architecture, the conditions closest to humankind, of collectivity, of ambition, of excellence... and to survive the passage of time because its origin is in the formal search that expresses such conditions.

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Il Cielo iGuzzini is located by one of the roadway hubs of Barcelona, in a fragile condition of stability on the site where it sits. Without modifying the topography, a large underground space is previously delimited, regular in form, providing for storage, parking, showroom, auditorium, technical services. Its roof is proposed as an exterior technical floor such that it works like an outdoor showroom.

Atop this underground container emerges the company building, spherical in form though slightly deformed on the south side. A large central void, occupied by the single column from which the entire building is suspended, permits greater light and energy control inside. The spaces within the sphere are offices and, on the upper floors, research facilities.

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Photograph by Adrià GoulaNew Headquarters iGuzzini Illuminazione España by Josep Miàs. Photograph by Adrià Goula.

Rendering. New Headquarters iGuzzini Illuminazione España by Josep Miàs.

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More information

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Architects

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Josep Miàs.

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Client

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iGuzzini Illuminazione España S.A.

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Area

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9.000 sqm.

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Dates

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Project 2006. Competition.- First prize..
Construction 2008-2011.

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Location

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Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.

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Budget

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€ 12M.

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Photography

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Adrià Goula.

JOSEP MIÀS. MIÀS Architects

MIÀS Architects is an internationally recognized Architecture and Urbanism Studio, founded by Josep Miàs in the year 2000, known for both its experimental projects and its practice combining sustainable technology, innovative manufacturing and cutting- edge construction practices.

Josep Miàs, Architect COAC/ARB. 1992_ETSAB_UPC, Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Barcelona_Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

From 1990 till 2000 he worked as Associated Architect with Enric Miralles, developing the following projects Círculo de Lectores in Madrid, Sports Hall in Huesca, Centro de Alto Rendimiento in Alicante, Library in Palafolls, Parc dels Colors in Mollet del Vallès, Cemetery in Igualada, Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, DiagonalMarPark, Santa Caterina Market and GasNaturalBuilding in Barcelona. In 2000, Josep Miàs founded his own studio.

Among won architectural competitions, these are the most important first prizes: Girona Central Park Station, Banyoles Old City Refurbishment, Barceloneta Market, Rubí Market, Golf Fontanals de Cerdanya Clubhouse, Tibidabo Funicular Station and Herta Frankel Puppet Theatre in Barcelona, Girona Annexa-Puigbert Primary School, Plug-in Building 22@ in Barcelona, Torrebaró Apartment Building in Barcelona, San Bernardo Apartment Building in Madrid, Dakar Music Recording Centre and Village in Senegal, Palafolls Pedestrian Bridge, Miño Sil Water Confederation Headquarters in Ourense, Arenys Mental Health Centre and iGuzzini Barcelona Corporate Building.

Josep Miàs’ works have won several awards, some of them are: AJAC Best Young Architect Award 2004 for Golf Fontanals de Cerdanya, Special Mention Girona Architecture Award 2005 for Mollet single house, First Prize Girona Architecture Award 2007 for Banyoles Old City Refurbishment, City of Barcelona Architecture and Urbanism Award 2007 for Barceloneta Market, Catalonia Construction Award 2009 for Banyoles Old City Refurbishment, Architecture Aplus Award 2011 Best Educational Building in Spain for Annexa-Puigbert Primary School, Building of the Year 2011 Archdaily Award_Winner World Best Building of the Year, and WAF World Architecture Festival 2012 Shorlisted World Best Building of the Year both for iGuzzini Barcelona Corporate Building.

From 1992, he has developed teaching activities in Architecture Schools in Europe, America and USA: Design Department Professor at Barcelona School of Architecture ETSAB_UPC Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Design Department Professor at School of Architecture La Salle BCN, Director of the Design Department and Deputy Director at School of Architecture ESARQ_UIC_Universitat Internacional de Catalunya and Professor in UCL University College London_The Bartlett School of Architecture,UNISS Università di Sassari_Facoltà d’Architettura Alghero, Frankfurt Stadelschule and USA Harvard Graduate School of Design GSD.

He has been invited to read lectures and head up workshops in a large number of universities in Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, United States, Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil, Singapore and Panama among others.

His work, as well as his writings, have been published in international magazines and books, and his buildings have been exhibited in many exhibition halls as COAC_Barcelona, Arquería Nuevos Ministerios_Madrid, Cité de l’Architecture_Paris, Stadelschule_Frankfurt, Architektur Forum_Zurich, TU University_Berlin,House of the Architect_Kiev, Bartlett School of Architecture_London, 2012 Biennale di Venezia, and WAF 2012 Singapore.

Currently, he is Associate Professor at the Barcelona School of Architecture ETSAB_UPC Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya_Barcelona, Visiting Professor in UNISS Università di Sassari_Facoltà d’Architettura Alghero andTeaching Fellow in UCL University College London_The Bartlett School of Architecture.