The Btek – Interpretation centre of Technology by ACXT Architects consists of two apparently uninterrupted pyramid-shaped volumes that connect below ground level. The building is located on one of the highest points of the Vizcaya Technology Park and close to the Bilbao airport's flight path for takeoffs and landings. It aims to create a landmark in its landscape.

Btek - Interpretation centre of Technology, conceptual image courtesy of ACXT Architects

Btek - Interpretation centre of Technology, diagram courtesy of ACXT Architects

+ Project description courtesy of ACXT arquitectura

BTEK is an interpretation centre for new technologies, aimed at student visitors.

The Centre's promoter, Parque Tecnológico, S.A., (Technology Park) set out the following as the most important guidelines:

• Create a very flexible and varied exhibition space, able to accommodate all types of exhibitions.
• Installations should be highly energy efficient (geothermal systems for climate control) and that use renewable energy sources (a building-integrated photovoltaic system connected to a 60kw network).
• The geometry of the covering where the solar panels are integrated should be triangular—similar to the shape of Technology Park's logo.

Btek - Interpretation centre of Technology, image courtesy of ACXT Architects

The site's location, on one of the highest points of the Vizcaya Technology Park and close to the Bilbao airport's flight path for takeoffs and landings, helps with the aim of making the building a landmark in its landscape.

The building consists of two apparently uninterrupted pyramid-shaped volumes that connect below ground level.

• The first is a heavy, black volume that emerges from the earth; it is enclosed by three metallic facades and completely covered with solar panels that form a patterned network.
• The second volume, contrasting with the first, is formed by two facades of curtain walling with an artificial grass-covered roof that starts off as an extension of the terrain and continues on to cover the entire site.
• Artificial grass also covers the below-ground-level connection, allowing it to merge with the site and its surroundings.

Btek - Interpretation centre of Technology, image courtesy of ACXT Architects

The five galleries are designed to be visited sequentially. In order to serve for a wide variety of possible exhibitions and contents, the galleries have been designed with very different characteristics: from those with ceilings at a conventional height to galleries with variable-height ceilings, reaching up to 16 metres of clear height, and with or without natural lighting.

A wide ramp for vehicular traffic has been designed near the pedestrian entrance, allowing access to the car park and installations rooms, as well as allowing for direct access to the exhibition galleries if large pieces need to be placed.

Btek - Interpretation centre of Technology, image courtesy of ACXT Architects

The pedestrian entrance is formed from the first volume, the fold on a corner marking the building entrance and access ramp. As the visitor descends, a metallic projection covers the arrival path and gathers the visitor in.

Called "The Ravine" for its narrow dimensions and 18-metres of clear height, the reception space marks the initial passage into the building. The sense of squeezing through is emphasized by the narrowing of the path and the ceiling heights that become lower as the visitor moves along.

The building's exhibition set-up is arranged on three floors terraced in arrangements parallel to the site's steep slope, so that the ground floor and the second floor have direct street-level access to the exterior. The three floors are connected by large stairways and ramps that follow the geometry and the volume of the whole so that the building is experienced as a single, undivided space.

Btek - Interpretation centre of Technology, section courtesy of ACXT Architects

+ Project credits / data

Project: Btek – Interpretation centre of Technology
Location: Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
Client: Parque Tecnológico S.A.
Building contractor: OHL

Architecture: ACXT Architects
Project Architect: Gonzalo Carro
Collaborators Architects: Javier Pérez, Carlos Miguel Guimaraes
Project Management: Gonzalo Carro

Costs: ATHOS (Pedro Berroya + Aitziber Goikoetxea)
Structure: Javier Eskubi, Amaia Oyón, Ángel Gómez
Environmental Engineering: Francisco José Sánchez, Jon Landaburu, Luis Alberto Ribacoba, Begoña Sánchez
Public Health Services: Luis Alberto Ribacoba, Begoña Sánchez
Lighting: Susaeta iluminación

Photographers: Aitor Ortíz, Gonzalo Carro (construction process)

Gonzalo Carro López, image courtesy of ACXT Architects

+ About Gonzalo Carro López, ACXT Architects

Getxo 1974. Architect project manager in the team from Bilbao. Member of the Society of Architects ACXT (IDOM Group).

Winner of the architectural competition for the construction of the Basque Historical Archive Building and Hospital de Cruces General Services Building, finalist in the competition of urban planning and housing typological proposals, Europan 6.

Btek Project Architect Project Manager, interpretation centre of technology, a project that is scheduled for the 8th BIA Sao Paulo Architecture Biennale 2009 and obtained an honourable mention in the AR awards 2009. He was also responsible for projects such as District Heating buildings in Zorrozaurre and Bolueta neighbourhoods in Bilbao and Antondegui neighbourhoods in San Sebastian or Zierbena rowing club. He currently works in the KAM museum, Kultur Atea Museum in Bilbao.

+ All images and drawings courtesy of ACXT arquitectura

The Canelos 59 Building by Garduño Arquitectos is a residential building to accommodate 6 units of vertical home in Mexico.

The main objective of this program was to give every space a view of the green area without visual interference from the immediately adjacent buildings. With this design in mind, we built a façade which, when unfolded, generates twice as much front and is shared by practically all living areas.

Garduño Arquitectos

Canelos 59 Building, image courtesy of Garduño Arquitectos

+ Project description courtesy of Garduño Arquitectos

The property destined for this building is adjacent to two large buildings in a ravine, adding an element of complexity that we solved by creating six vertical homes, using only 50% of the area and leaving a large green area.

Conceptually, the tracing of the architectural plans started with a semicircular ventilation patio that coincides with the adjacent building's patio so as to take share and take advantage of the light. The central volume was rotated 45 degrees from the center of the circle and, as a consequence, the space that houses the imposing 6-meter high room was liberated. This allows us to have three transparent facades with carefully placed panels that block the view from the adjacent areas while instilling a sense of freedom and luminosity inside.

The main objective of this program was to give every space a view of the green area without visual interference from the immediately adjacent buildings. With this design in mind, we built a façade which, when unfolded, generates twice as much front and is shared by practically all living areas.

Canelos 59 Building, image courtesy of Garduño Arquitectos

We used raw concrete, in its natural state of traditional formwork, as the main material and we left imperfections as a design quality. In the main façade we generated a sober pictorial image, using panels that light up when the area is turned on. Behind green tinted glass there is a gym and its complementary areas.

The living unit spreads out in 400 square meters distributed in 3 bedrooms, 2 living areas, living room, dining room and services. It works as a typical house in the area; however, we built three terraces per unit to directly enjoy the privileged views.

The result was a building that is defined by breaking free from rectangular prejudices or finishing touches, integrated into the green area in a style that cannot be confined within any specific period.

Canelos 59 Building - Ground floor plan, drawing courtesy of Garduño Arquitectos

Canelos 59 Building - Typical upper floor plan, drawing courtesy of Garduño Arquitectos

Canelos 59 Building - Transversal section, drawing courtesy of Garduño Arquitectos

+ Project credits / data

Architect: Garduño Arquitectos
Project: Canelos 59 Building
Location: Mexico

+ All drawings and images courtesy of Garduño Arquitectos

Terrace G, image courtesy of GRAD Arkitekter

In Sweden,  an extension of a house is completed by GRAD Arkitekter.

+ Project description courtesy of GRAD Arkitekter

A single mother contacts us to build an extension for her villa.

The house has a very nice garden, which she loves and wants to enjoy from early spring to late autumn. The client has in mind a small glassed-in volume, an extra living room opened to nature for resting and socializing. The existing wooden deck is actually a black construction of the previous owner who pulled down the original terrace of concrete and is causing moisture problems in the basement.

Terrace G, image courtesy of GRAD Arkitekter

Construction permit laws deny unfortunately a small extension because the house is a listed building and any changes should preferably be adapted to house the 40´s character.

To recreate the original terrace is not in line with customer’s wishes. The original terraces are flying over land on the pillar while she would rather have a place that weaves together the villa with garden and an easily accessible outdoor storage.

Although we know that an extension is not allowed, we still see this place as an intimate place where you can sleep and hang out by the fire … Under the process, we flirt with the fine materials of the original terraces remaining in the field, the patina of the concrete, their thin wrought iron railings.

Terrace G, image courtesy of GRAD Arkitekter

The result is a free standing volume of concrete that covers the existing level differences on the plot. The volume is anchoring the house to its surroundings and connecting living room with garden three steps below. A new staircase is used as a summer entrance.

Above the storage entrance is a bench made of concrete. A thin wrought iron railing surrounds the terrace. It creates some screens for the intimacy of the place and a canvas roof which can be tensioned against sun and rain.

The fresh green colour is interacting with greenery in the summer and is reminding it during the winter.

+ Project credits / data

Project: Terrace G
Architect: GRAD Arkitekter
Team GRAD: Sébastien Corbari, Malin Hultmark, Martin Hamdahl
Design: 2007-2008
Construction: 2008-2009

+ All images and drawings courtesy of GRAD Arkitekter