CaixaForum CAIXAFORUM | MADRID | 2008 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 BERES | LOPEZ
Building Reuse Modification + Additions HERZOG+DE MEURON
5∙a
Site Before Construction Began Before construction, the site of the CaixaForum was extremely closed. Surrounded by dense structures allowed for the building to be separated from any natural contact and fade away into history.
CAIXAFORUM | MADRID | 2008 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 BERES | LOPEZ
Madrid Pre-Construction HERZOG+DE MEURON
5∙b
Site After Construction Ended Once the project was completed, Herzog+De Meuron completely changed the site. They tore down decaying buildings, allowing for an expansion ot the plaza and added a green wall to its neighbor. The green wall serves as a transitional bridge with the parks across the street.
CAIXAFORUM | MADRID | 2008 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 BERES | LOPEZ
Madrid Post-Construction HERZOG+DE MEURON
5∙c
Parti Hovering and Expanding The CaixaForum in Madrid was designed through an existing and rooted power plant. Herzog+De Meuron needed to use the historical value but create a new experience of the space. To do that they erased the bottom of the structure giving the rest of the city the sense that such a heavy building is floating or hovering over the plaza; this expands the existingpublic space to reach out underneath the CaixaForum.
CAIXAFORUM | MADRID | 2008 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 BERES | LOPEZ
Separation Above+Below HERZOG+DE MEURON
5∙d
Program Analysis The Caixaforum was designed to serve the public. The Program consists of a large plaza space, half covered by the building. As one ascends through the main stair they encounter a vast lobby space, followed by two fully open gallerys. A restaurant is placed atop the building adjacent to a small administration section. The basement consists of primarily service spaces and has one large auditorium.
Restaurant Gallery 2 Gallery 1 Lobby
Covered Plaza Auditorium
CAIXAFORUM | MADRID | 2008 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 BERES | LOPEZ
Program
Admin.
Foyer
Cultural Center HERZOG+DE MEURON
5∙e
Program
Private
Private Layers There are no completely private or public spaces, unless you are an employee or someone who is viewing the galleries. For that reason we created a gradient, to show the lack of contrast between the spaces.
Public
CAIXAFORUM | MADRID | 2008 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 BERES | LOPEZ
Public vs Private Gradient HERZOG+DE MEURON
5∙f
Program Correlation Between Program and Circulation The CaixaForum consist of three major forms of vertical circulation. These stairwells allow for the occupants to move up and down freely, but there is one set of stairs that become a threshold between the plaza and the lobby. These stairs are also the main entrance which creates the blurred boundaries between spaces.
CAIXAFORUM | MADRID | 2008 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 BERES | LOPEZ
Circulation Vertical HERZOG+DE MEURON
5∙g
Spatial Organization
Regulating The Spaces The grid derived from the plans of the building reveals a priority in vertical circulation. As a gallery the building remains open and lacks a sense of order without these tubular structures. They become the anchor points through which the rest of the building sorts itself.
CAIXAFORUM | MADRID | 2008 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 BERES | LOPEZ
Compositional Grid Plan HERZOG+DE MEURON
5∙h
Spatial Organization
Juxtaposed Structural Systems The building consists of three structural systems; Steel Frame, Existing Masonry and Poured Concrete. Their organization in three distinct layers works logically in terms of density and their connection to the ground. The bottom layer houses the underground components of the program, the second layer is made of previously existing walls reused from the power plant that occupied the site, the steel frame on top of the building supports the panelized exterior shell.
CAIXAFORUM | MADRID | 2008 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 BERES | LOPEZ
Structural Grid Layers HERZOG+DE MEURON
5∙i
Material Taxonomy
Steel The rusted steel creates a drastic contrast between material elements, adding a decaying aestetic.
Existing Masonry The masonry is adapted from the building that occupied the site prior to the Caixaforum to create a historical reference and better connect the building to its surroundings.
Vegetation The plant life used on the green wall borders the exterior field of the plaza. This connection between the bordering parks mediates the transition from outside to in. The stark contrast of the juxtaposition sets the building apart.
CAIXAFORUM | MADRID | 2008 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 BERES | LOPEZ
Material Palette HERZOG+DE MEURON
5∙j
Material Taxonomy
CNC Milled Steel The steel rain screen panels are custom milled individually with a distinct “decay” pattern. They are allowed to rust and naturally decay when exposed to the elements, only furthering the aged feel of the building.
CAIXAFORUM | MADRID | 2008 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 BERES | LOPEZ
Rain Screen Steel HERZOG+DE MEURON
5∙k
Material Taxonomy
Enviromental and Spatial Effect The green wall on site was installed for a variety of reasons. First, it is a juxtaposition to the the brick and corten steel facade of the forum which creates a contrast in the composition of the project. It also creates a connection to the parks across the street. Secondly it is an enviromental strategy. The green wall not only collect water but it uses the the sun to its advantage and runs through the process of photosynthesis to create a healthier environment.
The Green wall on site which contains over 200 different species of vegetation.
CAIXAFORUM | MADRID | 2008 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 BERES | LOPEZ
Green Wall Plants HERZOG+DE MEURON
5∙l