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Controlar Headquarters in Alfena by ADOFF.ZURCATNAS

Controlar Alfena

Architects from ADOFF.ZURCATNAS practice have designed a massive space of Controlar Headquarters located in Alfena, Portugal. Project is nominated for the Great Indoors Award 2013 by Frame. For more images and architects' description continue after the jump:

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From the Architects:

What? – Concept / inspiration

In the current context of globalization, based on a process of technical revolution, the development of companies in the field of technological innovation, such as Controlar, has been marked by a physical dematerialisation and smaller requirements in terms of space and scale compared to traditional industry. In this regard, and based on the pre-existence of a large building which serves as a "skin" to maintain, the concept of action is based on dividing the interior space in "boxes" spaced to the existing construction and arranged according to the program and spans in the original facades. This proposal aims to build within the built and add without touching in order to integrate without merging two distinct approaches to architecture, the existing and the new proposal.

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Why? – Choices / motivation

The choice of partition of the space and the space between "boxes" and to the "skin" allows the profusion of natural light from the roof and facade into the interior of the nave of the building, allowing illumination of traffic, leisure and working areas. This objective of sustainability has also generated concern about the issue of cooling, which is restrained to the interior of the rooms, restricting the consumption needs to each of the spaces. In this concept of organization through independent "boxes" it is built up an “outdoor space” within the interior of the building, in a logic of gradual dissipation of accessibility, in which the entire infrastructure network is developed so that access for maintenance and change is facilitated.

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How? – Materials / products

In order to stand out the "boxes" from the "skin" the whole building was standardized through the use of grey colour, contrasting with the white used in new construction in which the application of materials from the industrial imaginary, such as polycarbonate and metal, assumes a finishing language with the reinterpretation of their natural characteristics in order to achieve a bright space and of easy maintenance due to their reflective and plane surfaces. This concept of sharing space through the use of "boxes" allows its implementation through the reproduction of economic light structures with the development of typified construction details targeting rationalization of construction.

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Project: Controlar Headquarters
Designed by ADOFF.ZURCATNAS
Area: 900 m2
Location: Alfena, Portugal
Website: www.joaomorgado.com

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