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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. The Cervantes Institute in Brussels, Belgium by Carlos Arroyo ArchitectsApril 4th, 2017 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Carlos Arroyo Architects Compact and Flexible One of the major challenges of the project was to combine at the ground floor level the required flexibility for a multifunctional and public space, and allowing at the same time the possibility to locate 30.000 books of the library. The system proposed to solve this issue was a three-dimensional version of the Cervantes Institute Logo. Orthogal geometries created by thick red lines which limit undefined spaces. One can move between this lines full of books and spend some time sitting on the benches located on the hallways or going out to wider spaces to enjoy the lecture at the café. The books work also as a storefront background. The activities allocated in this floor are visible from the street as a way to highlight its public essence. A domestic library, a coffee hall, a multifunctional space with stands or the information displayed on the monitors.
 Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)
 Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal) 1. Interlinked Paths Although the ground floor allocates a wide variety of different uses it works as a single space. There are lines of visión that cross the space from one corner to other. The light coming through the windows of a façade can be seen from the other one, having two main spaces with totally different uses but visually connected in some points of the route. Inside of the library route, the most sheltered angle hosts the children’s library area. Then, at halfway a ramp rise above the grount finishing the tour on a reading room furnished as a domestic space surrounded by books, but at the same time serving as a storefront and a stage.  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal) The remaining space is diaphanous, with some furniture elements that support the variety of uses that can be developed over time. A mobile bar is situated below the library system in the center or the plant letting to transform the area into a café or serving as a reception desk. A pixelated sky ceiling that encloses all the installations machines, stablishes a direct dialogue with the language use to solve the hall in the second floor.  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal) 2. Circular classrooms The docent program was situated in the first floor. Part of the existing glass partitions were rearranged on site, partly relocated in the same floor or in the second one. Taking advantage of their good insulation properties and providing acoustic privacy and a thermal barrier. In general, desks on the classrooms at the former headquarters were disposed on circles, by contrast, this form generates a conflict with the orthogonal spaces. The solution proposed was to mark this circle with a parapet which works as a colored background allowing to reuse the existing furniture in the former Institute. The central hall hosts complementary activities enclosed by light furniture or curtains allowing to display a single space or to divide it with this light partitions.  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal) 3. Recycling old and ugly furniture 1.Painting Spray paint can radically change certain types of material, if you choose the right color. It can be matte black, or red Instituto Cervantes, the important thing is that furniture different age and style remain homogenates.  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal) 2.Enclosing For the layout, we considered the former headquarters of the Institute so that we could re-use most of their furniture. Cladding everything with wood-block panels painted on the same red Cervantes Color, it makes the trick of homogenizing bits and pieces form different origin.  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal) 3.Contrasting The case of the chairs was singular, especially the unpholstered. As it is imposible to Paint or wrap then it was decided to use a colored background to constrast them. Olive Green astro can be very sad in a classic room, but set in front of a pink wall cand completely modify its aspect.  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal) Arquitectos Carlos Arroyo Carlos Arroyo Arquitectos is an office of architecture and urbanism based in Madrid and internationally, with works and projects in Spain, France, Belgium, Argentina, Colombia and Rwanda. Our multidisciplinary team carries out projects of diverse nature, with special emphasis on innovation and sustainable development; Innovation at all levels, from constructive detail to landscape management, developing new types of public buildings, or researching new forms of housing. Sustainability is an essential engine of our work, described by critics as “sustainable exuberance”.  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)  Image Courtesy © Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero (Imagen Subliminal)
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Categories: Educational Institute, Institute, Interiors, Library |
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