The International Architecture Awards 2014

To build with air, the abiding dream of every architect:

Facing the cathedral and following the outline of the former convent’s kitchen garden, we erect a strong stone wall box open to the sky. Its walls and floors entirely made of stone. The very same stone as the Cathedral. A real Hortus Conclusus. In the corner facing the cathedral, a massive stone measuring 250x150x50, a veritable Cornerstone. And chiselled on that stone:

HIC LAPIS ANGULARIS MAIO MMXII POSITO

Within the stone box, a glass box, only glass. Like a greenhouse. With a double facade similar to a Trombe wall. The external skin of the facade is made of glass, each single sheet measuring 600x300x12 and all joined together simply with structural silicone and hardly anything else. As if entirely made of air.

The trihedral upper angles of the box are made completely with glass, thus even further accentuating the effect of transparency. Precisely what Mies was looking for in his Friedrichstrasse tower. The trihedron built with air, a true Glass Corner. And engraved in acid on the glass:

HOC VITRUM ANGULARIS MAIO MMXII POSITO

The stone box made from Memory. With its Cornerstone deeply rooted in the soil.
The glass box made for the Future. With its Glass Corner blending into the sky.

To build with air, the abiding dream of every architect.



In collaboration with Pablo Fernández Lorenzo, Pablo Redondo Díez, Alfonso González Gaisán and Francisco Blanco Velasco

Arquitectos: Alberto Campo Baeza
Pablo Fernández Lorenzo
Pablo Redondo Díez
Alfonso González Gaisán
Francisco Blanco Velasco

Situación: Obispo Manso, 1. ZAMORA

Promotor: Junta de Castilla y León. Consejería de Hacienda

Fecha de proyecto: 2007

Fecha de construcción: 2012

Superficie: 12.100 m2

Arquitectos colaboradores: Ignacio Aguirre López
Miguel Ciria Hernández

Otros colaboradores: Alejandro Cervilla García
Emilio Delgado Martos
Petter Palander
Sergio Sánchez Muñoz

Estructura: Eduardo Díez - IDEEE

Instalaciones: Úrculo Ingenieros

Aparejador: Juan José Bueno Crespo

Consultor vidrios: José Pablo Calvo Busello

Contratista: UTE Edificio Consejo Consultivo: Dragados - San Gregorio

Industriales:
Piedra: Areniscas de los Pinares
Fachadas/Vidrio: PROINLLER
Cubiertas: Intemper
Metalistería: DACIN
Solado hormigón: ARGAPREF
Pavimento resina: Rinol Rocland Suesco, S.L.
Tabiquería/falsos techos: Zamorana de Aislamientos Termo-acústicos
Ebanistería: Hnos. García Santiago, S.A.
Ascensores: Schindler
Climatización: Atil Cobra
Electricidad: Agosa
Mobiliario: NUAR (Sellex), DACIN, Ciprés (Formica)
Jardinería: Viveros Gimeno Salamanca S.l.
Toldos: Ladis Protección Solar S.l.

Control de calidad: Incosa

Fotografía: Javier Callejas Sevilla