Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura designed the Musical School in Bilbao, Spain. The new Conservatory of Bilbao is located on an exempt city block in the neighbourhood of Deusto, where it coexists with an important Metro station whose glass shell stands out ostensibly.

Musical School Bilbao, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura

Musical School Bilbao, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura

Because of the possibility of an intervention on all of the surrounding space, the proposed building is limited to a close relationship with the topography of the lot, looking more towards urban integration and consolidation of the area, with a singular prominence.

Musical School Bilbao, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura

This is precisely because we are dealing with an educational centre, where a wide programme of classrooms, workshops, rehearsal areas, etc., much be structured, all of this including an auditorium to hold 400 people.

Musical School Bilbao, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura

Once the linear location of the project to the back of the lot was decided, the main issue became the manifestation of the natural slope of the plaza by means of the roof; in this way the building accompanies the urban space in its inclined gestures.

To reduce impact of the resulting volume, the building is sunken under the land and surrounded by separating crevices on its long sides.

Musical School Bilbao, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura

On the outside, it appears as an elementary glass volume that holds a second body inside, fractured by narrow transversal patios that let in natural light to classrooms and other areas, reducing possible acoustic impact from outside.

In this way, all areas receive natural light, a sensation that is perceived when passing through the common areas of the building.

+ Project credits / data

Project: Musical School Bilbao
Year: 2003/2006
Surface: 11.300 m²
Works Budget: 11.595.140 €
Site: Ibarrkolanda Square, Sarriko, Bilbao, Spain

Developer: Basque Government / City Hall Bilbao

Architects: http://www.robertoercilla.com/
Roberto Ercilla
Miguel Angel Campo

Technical Architects:
Gorka Sagasti
Javier Valdivielso

Collaborators:
Laura Angulo Architect
Patxi Galárraga Architect
Ana Aizpuru, Architect. Coord. work
LKS Structural Engineering
Engineering Eko Acústica
Ikonografik (Xavier Gorostiaga) Indicating
César San Millán, Photographer

Construction Company: UTE Conservatorio

The Sancho el Sabio Foundation, dating from 1964, is the main documentation and investigation centre of Basque culture and history.

Sancho El Sabio Foundation, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura

Designed by Spaish firm Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura, the proposal involves the recovery of a former cemetery and based on that, the development of the remaining building. Because the programme contemplates important storage spaces, it was decided that all of the storage areas and adjoining work areas would be on basement level and the former cemetery would hold a lobby, meeting rooms, administration, and movement.

Sancho El Sabio Foundation, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura

The proposal contemplates the coexistence of the two buildings. Illumination at night will allow the total comprehension of the proposal as one can clearly see the old building wrapped in a glass shell.

Sancho El Sabio Foundation - Conceptual idea, drawing courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura

The main idea is to preserve the old building in a glass structure that would also provide natural light to the basement level. To achieve this, a perimetrical ring around the cemetery is emptied and the glass fa?ade of the new building is built up from this fissure.

Sancho El Sabio Foundation, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura

Sancho El Sabio Foundation, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura

The basement is developed as an external ring around the cemetery and in it are located different storage and work rooms.

+ Project credits / data

Project: SANCHO EL SABIO FOUNDATION 2006/2008
Surface: 2,590 m2
Works Budget: 3.887.544 €
Site: Polígono Betono, Vitoria

Developer: Caja Vital Kutxa

Architects: http://www.robertoercilla.com/
Roberto Ercilla
Miguel Angel Campo

Technical Architects:
Laura Montoya, Antonio Bengoa

Collaborators:
Gerens Hill, Project Management
Raquel Ochoa. Architect. Coordinator work
Laura Angulo. Architect
Mikel Sanz. Architect
Inaki Ciganda. Architect
Inconor Engineering Instalations
Eduardo Martín. Stuctural works
Ikonografik. Senalética
Cesar San Millan, Photographer
Quintas, Photographer

Construction Company:
Construcciones Zikotz
Alcotán Fachadas

+ All images and drawings courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura | Photo by Quintas & Cesar San Millan

Shared by Mauro Fassino, an Italian artist from Turin. BIOmorphing is an art installation in Trento (Italy North East) designed for the national competition entry “Science en plein art” organized by Cittadellarte Fondazione Pistoletto, Fondazione Galleria Civica, PAV – Parco Arte Vivente and  Museo Tridentino di scienze naturali.

The work describes the integration between humanity and nature, it  is made by steel painted with enamel, artificial turf and stickers and it is a three-dimensional work. It will be exposed in Trento city center until June 12nd. If you are there, let’s take a look.

+ Designer: Mauro Fassino

BIOmorphing Art Installation, image courtesy Mauro Fassino

BIOmorphing Art Installation, image courtesy Mauro Fassino