The authors set themselves the task of linking the functional purpose of the object with its architecture. The Center for Biomedical Research is a rectangular building with a flat roof and several superstructures of different heights on it. By the way, it is these superstructures, according to the architects, that give the object a resemblance to … a camel. As you know, the hump for the hardy "ships of the desert" is nothing more than a storehouse of nutrients. In the case of the building, inside the rectangular "booths" are not only storage, but also technical premises.
A polar bear needs thick fur so that its body temperature is constant and does not depend on the ambient temperature. As you may have guessed, in terms of architecture, we are talking about a hinged ventilated facade, the aluminum elements of which protect the interior space from direct sunlight, preventing the interior from overheating.
But the flexible, but strong sheet is already related to the shape of the protective elements, called ribs in the project. The size of the ribs is 4500 x 800 mm, while their thickness does not exceed 3 mm. Aluminum "leaves" form an intricate pattern, enrich the plastic of the facades, and do not prevent fresh air from entering the building. Thus, the ventilation of the Center with an area of 12,150 m2 is carried out naturally. “The appearance of the object must correspond to its functional purpose,” says one of the authors of the project, Juan Irigaray Huarte. "Remember the shell: the outer shell repeats the inner structure of the creature."
A large lobby, library and administration office are planned on the ground floor. On the second and third tiers there are research laboratories and office premises. The basement is reserved for the main warehouse. According to some sources, the project budget was 18 million euros.
Andrey Chirkov
