Adaptability and use of space in Novhus design to benefit students in Panama City
In Panama City a competition was launched for the development of new buildings in a complex called ‘City of Knowledge/Ciudad del Saber’ sponsored by the Foundation City of Knowledge/Ciudad del Saber. The location is the old Clayton complex conformed in its majority by primeval military barracks and some other buildings of different nature have been added to it with a construction total of 6,900 sq m. The proposal must consider a 3 floor building with an approximated area of 3,450 sq m in a piece of land of 1,150 sq m.
Finally, the established bases of the contest mentioned the integration or adequacy to what once were military barracks. For this, they include an axonometric perspective exploited for the configuration of such buildings. On this basis, design studio Novhus chose to develop a program in two large divided blocks on its longest axe by a hiatus that has the intention of generating a big pipeline of natural ventilation and, that through stair ramps, it generates the needed connections between both blocks.
The entrance to the building is thanks to the access to a sunken yard which connects the free floor of the proposed building with the free floor of the future building, obtaining with this a big covered square and a place of encounter between people. Water mirrors, gardens and recreational areas were proposed for this part.
Formally, it was obtained what could be called an abstraction of the original scheme of a barricade, with the difference that instead of having a top with sloping slab, it was chosen a great metallic cover with vines, which work together with water condensation formed the water mirrors and the air current of the pipe line, creating a micro climate full of comfort.
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