MareNostrum Aedificium Habitationis by Aaron Leppanen and Gabriela Anker is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum in Architectura Competition Category.
ArgentumArchitectura· 2020
MareNostrum Aedificium Habitationis
by Aaron Leppanen and Gabriela Anker
Client: Romero & Pazmiño Ingeniería Inmobilaria
Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum Winner in Architectura Category
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- Verified Award Winner
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The Design
About MareNostrum Aedificium Habitationis
MareNostrum est aedificium habitationis octo tabulatorum in urbe Quito, in Aequatoria. Nomen ad locutionem Latinam "mare nostrum" refertur, et frons motum remorum classium Romanarum reddit. Frons curvata ampla podia format quae spatium interius ad exterius extendit. Anguli excisi duo tabulata percurrunt, umbram a sole praebent et loca creant ubi vicini convenire possunt. Aedificium suites, diaetas cum duobus tribusque cubiculis et loftos continet, cum atrio et areis viridibus in solario. Rationes passivae lucem naturalem ventilationemque praebent.
The Recognition
About the Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum
MareNostrum Aedificium Habitationis victor est Praemii A' Design Award Argenteum, honoris eximie amplissimi formis summi generis, pulchris et conspicuis dati. Victores Argenti opera valde splendida et creandi ingenio praedita sunt, quae praestantem peritiam, talentum et acumen auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur MareNostrum Aedificium Habitationis opus mirabile, exemplare, valde professionale et penitus novum fore. Haec forma Argento victa inventum notabile et admiratum est, quod ad fines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae promovendos confert. MareNostrum Aedificium Habitationis creatio est, quam multi invident, quae cupiditates excitat, sensus bonos affert et admirationem miraculumque movet.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Throughout the 8 story residential building, the movement of the facade generates large balconies, which extends the interior space to the exterior. The form has passive sustainability strategies, such as ventilation and natural light. The volume of the building allows different types of apartments, suites, 2 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms and lofts. In addition, social spaces are created inside the building, such as a lounge and green areas on the terrace, to take advantage of the urban context.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The building has 8 stories and 3 underground levels in a 1250 square meters lot. The total construction area is 8,800 square meters. The building has a reinforced concrete structure with steel deck floor plates.
- Tags
- Sea , Waves , Urban , Facade , Residential
- Production Technology
- The facade and the lobby have the same language in their design. However the facade was constructed with conventional masonry blocks and mortar. The lobby in contrast was built with a combination of digital fabrication and artisan work. The unique lobby forms were made with a cnc cut mdf structure and colorado wood panels cut by hand. The use of complementary digital and artisan construction techniques was key to attain such unconventional forms in a setting like Ecuador.
- Design Challenge
- The historical connection that the site of the project had with the sea inspired the form. The local construction technology however gave limitations on how this form would be attained. After evaluating different materials , the conventional masonry blocks and cement materials were used in a sculpted work with the local artisans to build the wave inspired facade. The combination of these curved walls and wooden accents below the cantilevered floor plate extensions created the desired volume.
- Research
- Our office research primarily focuses on form finding through organic efficiencies. Specifically varied repetition is of interest, looking for models of difference through a similar design process. The objective behind this research is to identify potential insights and techniques that can be implemented in our iterative design process. Methods include digital sketching in rhino and grasshopper and physical printed models. In the iterative process, experimentation is the most important aspect in the search for potential architectural solutions. These experiments are tested against the various project parameters, which could include; zoning, context, client preferences, marketing strategies, constructability and other conceptual criteria. The result of this process is constructible yet experimental design that has movement, emotion, repetition and a physical presence in our community.
- Inspiration
- The site of the project was named Mare Nostrum after an existing restaurant, whose latin meaning is our sea. The ancient Romans baptized what is now the Mediterranean Sea with this name. Inspired in this context, the movement that the oars of the fleets of the Roman Empire used centuries ago to protect their territories is reinterpreted on its facade. Reinforcing this concept an experience of movement is created for the users inside and outside the spaces.
- Project Duration
- The project started in 2016 and was completed in 2019 in Quito, Ecuador.
- Operation Flow
- The characteristic cutout corners, spanning over two levels, give the building a softer attitude. They also create spaces and opportunities for neighbors to interact with each other, between the balconies of differing depth.
The cutout corners also provide shade protecting from the hot Andean sun. - Team Members
- Aaron Leppanen
Gabriela Anker
Sofía Chávez
Caroline Dieden
José Silva
Gabriela Valdéz Mena - Image Credits
- BICUBIK
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