Vital Building / Mozas Aguirre arquitectos

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Architects: Mozas Aguirre arquitectos – Javier Mozas & Eduardo Aguirre
Location: Madrid,
Project year: 2005
Construction year: 2007
Client: Local Savings Bank: Caja Vital Kutxa Headquarters
Structural Engineer: NB 35, Madrid
Artists: Javier Perez: two walls and ceiling of the main hall / Miguel Gonzalez de San Román: paintings on the basement
Site Area: 11,042 sqm
Constructed Area: 16,578 sqm
Photographs: Cesar San Millan

This is the headquarters for the local savings bank. The building reproduces the scale of the surrounding small woods, a park of the Natura 2000 networking programme.

general plan

The floor plan has a chromosome shape with four arms.

The structural concept is based on pairs of exterior metal supports, clad in stainless steel composite panels. One of the arms has been conceived as a 26 meter cantilever. In this case the concept changes and the pairs do not have any structural function.

A double height hall located in the heart of the building has its two façades enclosed by a work of art. They have been constructed with bright red polyurethane panels with a manually painted biological pattern.

The idea is to identify the building as a live organism in motion. A black skin made of protects the inhabited spaces behind the stainless steel pairs.

Publication material via v2com

 
 
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aaron says:

the facade looks slightly akin to the ruins of the world trade centers

 
# December 7, 2008 at 10:13
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This is a really cool building. It feels heavy and light simultaneously, and I think it looks great in the landscape. The best photo, though, is the wintry construction photo of the skeleton of the facade. Gorgeous.

http://www.contemporaryartdaily.com

 
# December 7, 2008 at 12:21
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Scott says:

Uh, eww! What were they trying to do?

 
# December 7, 2008 at 14:34
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The facade reminds me of the bird’s nest in beijing. I wonder if the client demanded something similar to that? …I would not be surprised.

 
# December 7, 2008 at 16:14
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cfboyd says:

very beautiful, though I’d like to see a better picture of that cantilevered section.

what confuses me is the snow. in madrid? i had no idea.

 
# December 7, 2008 at 17:32
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Come says:

The Caja Vital Building is in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the North of Spain. It’s not in Madrid.

 
# December 7, 2008 at 19:37
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What’s your objection, Scott? I’m not sure I would know how to answer your question about most buildings. It doesn’t seem like they work making a point, particularly. If you’re wondering what’s interesting about it, mainly the facade, but also, I would argue, the integration of an architecture-specific artwork into the design.

http://www.contemporaryartdaily.com

 
# December 8, 2008 at 00:18
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missND says:

first of all the façades of the building seems impressive. but the following pictures and the ”The structural concept is based on pairs of exterior metal supports, clad in stainless steel composite panels. One of the arms has been conceived as a 26 meter cantilever. In this case the concept changes and the pairs do not have any structural function.” sentences made me search for a ‘monsteration’ kind of concept. unfortunately the project seems to stand in between to behave as a structural building or to show off monsteration.

positive but not yet completed.

 
# December 8, 2008 at 08:55
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adam says:

agree Sinking Cities said

 
# March 4, 2009 at 22:35
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richie says:

The Brakedance.

 
# April 15, 2009 at 19:44
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BROSALIN says:

Это не брейк данс, это ГРАЙНДКОР нах. ну ооооооооооооооооооочень хорошее здание…..ну воообще хороооооооошеееееееееее

 
# May 20, 2009 at 13:59
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2MACoff says:

НУ ДА НУ ДА …

 
# May 29, 2009 at 10:09
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jay says:

what is that crap hanging off the concrete?

oh…

 
# June 9, 2009 at 23:20
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otis says:

the facade walks a fine line between building and scrap yard but i find it quite striking overall especially from a distance and the interiors are lovely. could certainly do without the suspended facade sections though really it’s enough without having to be floating as well.

 
# June 9, 2009 at 23:21
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mankichi says:

what is the idea of this project ????????????

 
# September 14, 2009 at 13:06
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Kishore Bhattacharya says:

Beijing’s Bird nest stadium looked more natural than this one.Low hills around do not indicate if this is part of nature or an unnatural substance. Has it landed on earth from a remote planet?Like cubism and modern art the building canvas leaves open many questions–which may have many answers.Chromosome concept and banking function may gel–but the design raises unknown questions.

 
# November 5, 2009 at 04:55
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1:19 PM Oct 26th

Reading: "Vital Building / Mozas Aguirre arquitectos | ArchDaily" (http://twitthis.com/54m4z3)

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11:17 AM Apr 10th

Mustafa Alkan /breath>: Vital Building / Mozas Aguirre arquitectos | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/aJnhUn

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