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MareNostrum Bangunan Kediaman by Aaron Leppanen and Gabriela Anker

MareNostrum Bangunan Kediaman by Aaron Leppanen and Gabriela Anker is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award Perak in Reka Bentuk Seni Bina, Bangunan dan Struktur Competition Category.


PerakSeni Bina· 2020

MareNostrum Bangunan Kediaman

by Aaron Leppanen and Gabriela Anker

Client: Romero & Pazmiño Ingeniería Inmobilaria

A' Design Award Perak Winner in Seni Bina Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About MareNostrum Bangunan Kediaman

MareNostrum ialah sebuah bangunan kediaman lapan tingkat di Quito, Ecuador. Nama tersebut merujuk kepada istilah Latin bagi laut kita, dan fasadnya mentafsir semula pergerakan pengayuh armada Rom. Fasad yang melengkung membentuk balkoni besar yang meluaskan ruang dalaman ke luar. Sudut-sudut berkeratan merentangi dua tingkat, memberikan naungan daripada cahaya matahari dan mewujudkan tempat di mana jiran boleh bertemu. Bangunan ini menempatkan suite, apartmen dua bilik tidur dan tiga bilik tidur serta loft, dengan ruang santai dan kawasan hijau di teres. Strategi pasif menyediakan cahaya semula jadi dan pengudaraan.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Perak

MareNostrum Bangunan Kediaman ialah pemenang A' Design Award Perak, pengiktirafan yang sangat berprestij yang dianugerahkan kepada reka bentuk bertaraf tinggi, indah dan mengagumkan. Pemenang Perak ialah karya yang amat cemerlang dan sangat kreatif yang menggambarkan kepakaran, bakat dan ketajaman fikiran yang luar biasa pereka bentuknya. MareNostrum Bangunan Kediaman diharapkan menjadi karya yang menakjubkan, contoh teladan, sangat profesional dan sangat inovatif. Reka bentuk pemenang A' Design Award Perak ini ialah ciptaan yang sangat ketara dan dikagumi yang memberi manfaat kepada dan memajukan batas seni, sains, reka bentuk dan teknologi. MareNostrum Bangunan Kediaman ialah ciptaan yang sangat dicemburui yang membangkitkan keinginan, membawa perasaan positif dan mencetuskan rasa hairan serta kagum.

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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