b-ing Architecture
Second Skin
Refurbishment of EADA Business School. CDB Arquitectura
The mooted reduction of traffic lanes on C/ Aragón will undoubtedly be a positive addition to improving one of Barcelona’s most important traffic arteries, from the pedestrian point of view at any rate. The recently completed refurbishment of EADA designed by CDB Arquitectura is another notable improvement to the street, the business school located on the corner of Muntaner and Aragón in the Eixample was remodelled with a view to rationalising the internal circulation and improving the conditions for the teaching and office facilities using a more sustainable and eco-friendly design approach.
The new double skin façade is the most visible element of the project and strikes an impacting addition to the streetscape that stretches from the chaflán to occupy a third of the block. It also serves to provide a cutting edge new image for the business school. Given its West North West orientation the teaching spaces behind the façade on Aragón required protection from the afternoon sun. To do so the second façade was added with series of coloured glass fins held within a sinuous metal frame corresponding to the various floor levels within an independent structure held proud of the building’s primary façade. The glass fins measure 40cm in width, angled at a fixed 30° (resulting from a detailed daylight study). The combined colour scheme of reddish brown, golden yellow, olive green and clear tinted glazing panels creates a flickering chromatic effect when hit directly by the sun, an attractive faceted work of public art with a practical fucntion.
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The new façade provides a layer of solar and acoustic protection to the busy c/ Aragón
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Detail of the fixed glass fins, set at an angle of 30°
One of the aims of the refurbishment project for the nine storey structure which measures approximately 4,000 sq.m. was the provision of a more energy efficient building utilising passive and high tech mechanical installations. The new façade is only one of the tools for achieving that end. Solar panels on the roof and a new combined heating and cooling ventilation together with heat recovery systems also form part of the project. Where possible natural lighting and ventilation are used for the interior and the building materials are capable of being recycled in the future.
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- EADA Business School
- Carrer d'Aragó, 204
- 08011 Barcelona
- www.eada.edu
- www.cdbarquitectura.com