Barcelona Nautical Faculty
Competition 2nd PRIZE

One building, two agents. A void as the main space, organized according to two different overlapping typologies, the courtyard and the comb.

The hybrid typological model adapts to the different staircases of the pieces of both programs that fit efficiently with the two distributive typologies, while favoring the ventilation and natural lighting of all of them.

The void is a central space but not introverted, but opens to the outside. On the lower floors (courtyard) it is related to the city, the port and the sea through the opening of the large access porch. On the upper floors (comb), through the patios and terraces overlooking the city.

The first floor is arranged on two levels connecting to the city at both ends, so that the building is accessible from the main porch, while allowing a second access from the rear urban space, favoring a route in the longitudinal direction. This folding of the first floor that responds to the free height requirements of the special program of the lower water tank makes the basement floor become a semi-basement floor and visible from the outside. In this way the building also becomes permeable in its perimeter from the street level, leaving this singular piece in view of the pedestrian, avoiding blind locks without activity on the first floor.

A compact volumetry, in which the void has a dual function: identity space and energy catalyst. This large void forms a four-story atrium-agora that constitutes the common relationship space for the different users and visitors of the center. Its configuration also facilitates cross visions between the different parts, promoting synergies. This interior void has its own materiality, with a color scheme based on shades of blue that is also visible from the outside. The blue space as the center’s identity.