Nueva Sede del Colegio Territorial de Arquitectos de Alicante

New Headquarters for the Alicante College of Architects

The new CTAA headquarters has been inserted into a formerly-residential early 19th century city centre building with an almost rectangular floor plan, 15 metres deep by 30 metres on the main façade, overlooking a square with enormous magnolia trees.

The concept developed out of the procedure that would be employed. The demolition of the interior, keeping only the facades, led to seeing the block as a container to hold the new construction. The thick façade walls, with a similar proportion of solid wall and openings, form a powerful abstract enclosure in which to lay out the brief.

The various uses are grouped by floor, making use of the compatibilities between them. The more 'public' parts of the brief are placed on the first three floors and the more administrative ones on the top two, The two voids, on the first and second floors, create a diagonal space that links the busiest floors of the building and articulates the different uses. The void rises from the ground floor in a vertical prolongation of the public space of the street.

The interior space aims for continuity, creating ambiences in constant contact with the vegetation in the square. To accommodate the requirements of the brief, these spaces needed to be compartmentalised. Glass screens which enclose the various uses without affecting their spatial unity, or the furniture alone, are used for this purpose.

The new structure has been kept to a minimum. The bearing structures are a concrete perimeter wall lining the existing outside wall and the stairs/lifts/services core, which acts as the only column. The bays are spanned by metal beams every 3 metres - the solid/open module of the façade - supporting the composite decking panels.

The façades have been treated neutrally, with respect for the original construction solutions, to accentuate the force of their structure. A new façade rises above the original one, confined to the stair and lift well and the discreet rooftop block. It employs wood joinery and aluminium Venetian blinds, contrasting with the heaviness of the walls. The ground floor openings have been recomposed, as they had been disfigured by alterations for former commercial premises.

The original pitched roof has been replaced by a roof terrace, reached from the rooftop storey, with good views over the city and the trees in the square.

Situación/Location:
Plaza Gabriel Miró.

Promotor/Developer
Colegio Territorial de Arquitectos de Alicante.

Instalaciones/Installations:
G.I.A. (Grupo de Ingeniería y Arquitectura)

Estructuras/Structure:
G.I.A. (Grupo de Ingeniería y Arquitectura)

Aparejador/Surveyor:
Marcos Gallud

Empresa constructora/Contractor:

CYES (Construcciones y Estudios)

Fotógrafo/Photographer:
Diego Opazo

Q.01 cubierta formada por hormigón celular, capa de regularización de mortero de cemento, fieltro geotextil, lámina impermeabilizante de PVC armada con tejido de fibra de vidrio, fieltro geotextil, poliestireno extruido 40 mms. y capa de 5 cm de grava (Ø 15/30 mms.)

Q.02 frente de forjado rematado con chapa de caero galvanizado pintada con esmalte, poliestireno extruido doble de 40 mms. y remate de cubierta con chapa plegada de acero galvanizado de 2 mms.

Q.03 cubierta de ático formada por hormigón celular, capa de regularización de mortero de cemento, fieltro geotextil, lámina impermeabilizante de PVC armada con tejido de fibra de vidrio, fieltro geotextil, poliestireno extruido de 40 mms. y tarima de iroko sobre rastreles de pino cuperizado.

Q.04 repisa y frente de remate de cornisa de fachada con piedra caliza crema levante apomazada de 3 cms. de espesor tomada con mortero de cemento y barandilla metálica formada por pasamanos y montantes de perfil metálico tubular (Ø 20 mms.) galvanizado y pintado con esmalte.

Q.05 volúmenes de cubierta de cuerpo de ladrillo perforado enfoscado fratasado de mortero de cemento pintado. sombrerete de acero galvanizado.

F.01 fachada rehabilitada: paramentos y elementos de piedra reparados con reposiciones puntuales de piedra arenisca y morteros especiales, limpieza mediante proyección de agua y protección superficial con revestimiento consolidante e hidrofugo. revestimiento de revoco preexistente sobre muros de mampostería, reparado con morteros especiales, limpieza mediante proyección de agua y protegido superficialmente con veladura al silicato aplicada por aspersión y barandilla de acero forjado, lijada con cepillo y protegida con pintura de esmalte.

F.02 trasdosado de muros de fachada preexistente, formado por muro portante perimetral de hormigón armado de 20 cms., acabado con trasdosado semidirecto de placa de cartón-yeso de 15 mms. pintado en plástico mate. rodapié enrasado de 60x15 mms. de iroko.

F.03 carpinterías de madera de iroko formando ventanas de una única hoja abatible (correderas en ático) con acristalamiento 3+3/12/4+4 mms. según detalles de carpintería, persiana veneciana exterior motorizada tipo gradstore 80 de grdhermetic accionable mediante botonera en jamba de ventana, guías de aluminio empotradas en portaguías de iroko y alfeizar interior de hueco de iroko peraltado al nivel del rodapié.

F.04 costales para hueco de acceso principal del edificio para recibir puerta pivotante compuestos por doble tablero de lamas de iroko de 25 mms. con estructura interior de 50x50 mms. de pino y paneles de poliestireno extruido de 50 mm. en su interior, hoja pivotante de madera de iroko y pavimento de coco natural.

F.05 ceramiento al patio mediante enfoscado fratasado de mortero de cemento y cal pintado, sobre tabicón de LH11, aislamiento térmico de poliestireno expandido (e: 40 mms.), cámara de aire, tabique de LH7, trasdosado directo de placa de cartón-yeso de 15 mms. pintado en plástico mate y rodapié enrasado de iroko de 60x15 mms.

P.01 caja de servicios y comunicaciones verticales formada por muros portantes y forjados de losa maciza de hormigón armado, panelado exterior mediante chapa industrial de aluminio anodizado de 6 mms. con sistema de anclaje y regulación oculto a base de rastreles de acero galvanizado y uñas de aluminio soldadas a la chapa y trasdosado semidirecto de placa de cartón-yeso de 15 mms. en interior de escalera.

P.02 tarima de madera de iroko en tablas de 120 mms. de ancho y 22 mms. de espesor, sobre tablero contrachapado de 20 mms. y rastreles de pino de 50x50 mms., mano de barniz al agua, lijado y dos manos de terminación del mismo barniz, canaletas y cajas de conexión de pvc bajo tarima para cableado de luz, voz y datos y tapas de cajas con tablas de iroko. Forjado de chapa de acero colaborante de 7+8 cms. de espesor sobre vigas de acero. ignifugación mediante proyección de vermiculita Falso techo formado por placas de cartón-yeso de 13 mm. sobre rastreles metálicos de 47 mm. cada 40 cm. suspendidos de forjado mediante tirantes metálicos.

P.03 pavimento de cuarcita celeste acabado apomazado de dimensiones varias (largo constante 100 cms. y anchos variables de 40,60,80 y 100 cms.) y 2 cms. de espesor calibrado, colocado con las juntas a hueso y sobre capa de arena tomadas con mortero de cemento. Forjado reticular de casetones de hormigón con proyectado ignífugo de vermiculita por cara inferior.

P.04 particiones de vidrio laminado 6+6 empotrado a suelo y falso techo mediante U de acero inoxidable y partición en ámbito del falso techo formada por doble placa de cartón-yeso de 13 mms. sobre perfiles de acero galvanizado de 34 mms.

P.05 antepecho de huecos de forjado formado por vidrio laminado compuesto por dos hojas de 8 mms. sin pasamanos, anclado a peto de forjado de chapa de acero, canto de forjado con placa de cartón-yeso de 15 mms. encolada a peto metálico.

IC.01 climatización a base de unidades de conductos bomba de calor, a razón de dos por planta, excepto en planta ático (una), unidades exteriores en cubierta y unidades interiores en falsos techos registrables de lamas de aluminio de 20 mms. de anchura de luxalon en aseos, cuadro de mandos en armarios de instalaciones de planta, impulsión por dinteles de huecos de fachada a través de difusores lineales con plenum de chapa y conexión a conducto principal de fibra mediante tubo flexible. retornos por entrecalle en el encuentro de falso techo con núcleo de escalera a conducto.

C.01 cimentación de muros de fachada, recalzada mediante sistema de "yet-groutting" e impermeabilizada mediante capa de imprimación, lámina celular filtrante y capa de grava drenante.

C.02 muro de sótano, formado por muro portante de hormigón armado de 30 cm. revestido por su intradós con morteros impermeables.

C.03 losa de cimentación, de hormigón armado de 70+10 cms. de canto, acabada con pavimento de hormigón fratasado amasado con fibras de polietileno fibrilado (900 gr./m3) con juntas cada 25 m2.

Q.01 roof: air-entrained concrete, cement mortar levelling screed, geotextile felt, dpm of PVC reinforced with fibreglass fabric, geotextile felt, 40 mm extruded polystyrene, 5 cm gravel (Ø 15/30 mm)

Q.02 enamel-painted galvanised steel fascia, double 40 mm extruded polystyrene, 2 mm galvanised steel flashing over roof edge

Q.03 top storey roof: air-entrained concrete, cement mortar levelling screed, geotextile felt, dpm of PVC reinforced with fibreglass fabric, geotextile felt, 40 mm extruded polystyrene, iroko decking on copper-naphthenate-treated pine joists.

Q.04 façade entablature: cornice and frieze in 3 cm thick sanded cream levante limestone fixed with cement mortar, enamel-painted galvanised metal railing comprising tubular section (Ø 20 mm) handrail and posts.

Q.05 housing: perforated brick fabric rough rendered, cement mortar floated and painted, galvanised steel cowl.

F.01 rehabilitated façade: stone parts and facings repaired with some replacement of sandstone with special mortars, water jet cleaning and a hardening and water-repellent treatment to protect surfaces, existing render to masonry walls repaired with special mortars, water jet cleaning and spray-applied silicate film to protect surfaces, wrought steel railings brush-abraded and protected with enamel paint.

F.02 lining of existing façade walls comprising 20 cm reinforced concrete perimeter bearing wall finished with 15 mm plasterboard fixed to channels and painted with matt plastic paint, 60x15 mm iroko skirting mounted flush

F.03 iroko wood joinery forming windows with a single opening pane (sliding in rooftop storey) with 3+3/12/4+4 mm glazing as per joinery detail, Gradstore 80 type external venetian blind, motor-driven, operated by buttons in window jamb, aluminium blind rails inset in iroko housing, iroko sill in interior window embrasure raised to skirting level.

F.04 main entrance embrasure sides to receive pivoted door: double board of 25 mm iroko strips over 50x50 mm pine core structure enclosing 50 mm extruded polystyrene panels, iroko wood pivoted single leaf door, natural coconut floor covering

F.05 rear wall overlooking centre-block: LH11 cellular brick rough rendered, lime and cement mortar floated and painted, 40 mm thick expanded polystyrene thermal insulation, air cavity, LH7 cellular brick lined directly with 15 mm plasterboard painted with matt plastic-based paint, flush iroko wood skirting 60x15 mm

P.01 Stairway, lift and service installations core: bearing walls and solid reinforced concrete slab floors, external panelling 6 mm industrial anodised aluminium sheeting with concealed anchoring/adjustment system of galvanised steel channels and aluminium hooks welded to sheeting, staircase lined with 15 mm plasterboard fixed on channels.

P.02 iroko wood floorboards 120 mm wide x 22 mm thick on 20 mm plywood sub-deck over 50x50 mm pine joists, water-based varnish sanded and finished with two coats of same varnish, pvc cable trays and junction boxes for electricity, telephone and computer cables under decking with iroko plank on box covers. Composite deck: steel sheeting 7+ 8 cm on steel beams, sprayed vermiculite fire protection. Suspended ceiling: 13 mm plasterboard on 47 mm metal channels every 40 cm attached to soffit by metal hangers.

P.03 flooring: sky blue quartzite, sanded finish, length 100 cm, gauged thickness 2 cm, varying width (40, 60, 80 or 100 cm), dry joints, laid on sand and fixed with cement mortar. Concrete waffle slab floor with vermiculite fire protection sprayed on soffit.

P.04 6+6 laminated glass partitions fixed into stainless steel channels in floor and ceiling, partition in suspended ceiling formed by double layer of 13 mm plasterboard on 34 mm galvanised steel sections.

P.05 through floor void: parapet 8+8 mm laminated glass with no hand-rail anchored to steel-plate deck-breast, deck edged with 15 mm plasterboard glued to steel plate.

IC.01 climate control: heat pump ducting units two per floor excepting rooftop storey (one), exterior units on roof, interior units in removable Luxalon 20 mm wide aluminium strip ceilings in toilets, controls in service cabinets per floor, supply through façade window lintels and linear diffusers with sheet metal plenum connected by flexible duct to main fibreboard duct, return through gap at meeting of suspended ceiling with stairwell at duct.

C.01 façade wall footing underpinned by Jet Grouting system and waterproofed with layer of primer, cellular filtering membrane and gravel-filled drainage trench

C.02 basement wall: 30 cm reinforced concrete bearing wall coated with waterproof mortars on inner face.

C.03 reinforced concrete groundslab 70+10 cm thick, floor finish floated concrete mixed with fibrillated polyethylene fibre (900 gr./m3) with joints every 25 m2.