* Nominated work, EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award (2019)

* Selected work, Bienal Española de Arquitectura y Urbanismo BEAU (2021)

* Finalist work, Mapei Award Sustainable Architecture (2018)

* Special Mention, MatCOAM, Category – Sustainability (2018)

* Special Mention, Premio Arquitectura con Ñ, VETECO-ASEFAVE, Category – Solar Protection (2018)

* Nominated work, Gubbio Prize, European Section of Works (2018)

* Restricted Contest 1st prize (2016)

The building for Save The Children Foundation is a strategic point in the San Diego neighbourhood for child care in San Diego, Vallecas. It is part of the network of social infrastructure organizations working in the neighbourhood. The proposal is based on a project to renovate and expand a former industrial building by adding an architectural element that crowns and envelops the existing structure, creating a new façade, a new accessible services and communications hub, and an attic that crowns the complex.

The following interventions are proposed:

1. Refurbishment of the architectural support. A series of architectural actuations serve to update the body of this 1950s building: (a) refurbishment and consolidation of the existing structure. (b) Partial demolition of the rear of the building to integrate a new accessible communications and service core, in compliance with current regulations. (c) Extension of the top floor, which uses up the allowed building surface with a two-level space, arranged between two terraces to favour cross-ventilation. (d) Renovation of the facade, featuring a system of eaves, awnings, and planters that extend down from the top floor. This solves the problem of the (non-existent) heat insulation and the regulation of the solar radiation, while at the same time configuring the new image of the STC Foundation in the square. (e) Functional organization to maximize the typological layout, which—in compliance with the strict regulations for these kind of buildings—ensures programmatic flexibility for other potential future uses.

2. Stimulating affection. The building is equipped with certain elements to allow interaction and appropriation of the spaces by the users as well as an emotional attachment to the new headquarters. Applying certain contemporary child care methodologies, the space is organized through a series of spatial, material, chromatic, furniture and design actuations that encourage self-confidence, responsibility, and respect for others, such as: (a) Integration of mechanisms that favour a collaborative arrangement of spaces. Thus, the moving panels in the classrooms or the portable furniture in the library help to structure the space in different ways and strengthen the bond between the users and the spaces. (b) Incorporation of elements that encourage care, such as plants (in the pots) and some ‘architectural pets’, integrated within the various spaces (like “the cat” or “the elephant”) that will be cared for collectively. (c) Stimulation of perception through materials. For instance, some of the mirrored surfaces of the waiting room reflect the outside; the paving of the square flows into the hall; the windows at the entrance can be removed, facilitating a direct connection to the plaza's playground, breaking the barrier between the inside and the outside. (d) Incorporation of the kids’ wishes. Several items from the “wish list” created by children during the competition process were spatially included. While some of these requests, such as ‘installing a chocolate fountain on each floor’, were difficult to implement in the project, others, such as “seeing the stars from the rooms,” were translated into different architectural elements, such as the skylight on the roof of the screening room. In short, this set of actuations is an attempt to give the building a “pet-like” condition, to make gaming easier and to stimulate a relationship of affection towards the centre.

3. Energy strategy. A series of basic active and passive bioclimate measures were presented to complement the comprehensive climate control strategy: (a) Design of a new insulated enclosure and cross ventilation whenever possible. (b) Façade system formed by canopies and eaves that reduce energy consumption for cooling in summer and heating in winter. (c) Incorporation of plants on the façade to help regulate temperature and moisture during the summer months. The plants also promote biodiversity in the surrounding area. (d) Cold/hot conditioning system by means of underfloor heating. Thanks to all these elements, the building has the best possible energy certification, reduces its maintenance costs and dependence on fossil fuels, while the comfort of the children, visitors and workers is ensured.

4. Phases and updates. In order to shorten the schedule and lower the required budget, the project has been presented as the essential refurbishment of a ‘basic’ hardware to allow the Foundation to start its work in the neighbourhood. Nevertheless, a number of building actuation protocols may also be incorporated so it is possible at a later date to include new elements in the ‘hardware’, adjust the performance and update the main structure as the needs of the NGO evolve. These elements include: (a) Closing of the main terrace with a greenhouse, which will be part of the active air conditioning system. (b) Possibility of incorporating solar photovoltaic energy on the roof, thanks to the optimal geometry and inclination for solar collection. (c) Implementation of new climate conditioning elements. (d) Integration of new convertible furniture, etc.

These operations extract the full potential of the building by means of a programme that is both exciting and functional, as decided by the three juries (the experts, the personnel and the children) that participated in the voting.

* Nominated work, EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award (2019)

* Selected work, Bienal Española de Arquitectura y Urbanismo BEAU (2021)

* Finalist work, Mapei Award Sustainable Architecture (2018)

* Special Mention, MatCOAM, Category – Sustainability (2018)

* Special Mention, Premio Arquitectura con Ñ, VETECO-ASEFAVE, Category – Solar Protection (2018)

* Nominated work, Gubbio Prize, European Section of Works (2018)

* Restricted Contest 1st prize (2016)Affection Architecture

Affection architecture

1. Composition of bodies. A new body hovers over the old building, updates its programme and improves its performance and energy performance.

1+1 equals more than 2.

2. Architecture of affection. Spaces form care that foster affective bonds.

Architectural pets.

3. Energy adjustments. Spatial and technical dispositions to increase bioclimatic performance.

Intra-scalar strategies.

4. Architectural hardware. A basic spatial configuration that can be adapted over time.

Caring for potentiality.

5. Swiss Army knife. Adjustable elements for configuring rooms in different ways and favouring a collaborative organization of spaces.

Spatial Swiss Army knife.

6. Inside and outside. Strategies to strengthen the relationship with the public space, enhance lighting, and bring the neighborhood into the building.

“The lowest of the highest”

* Nominated work, EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award (2019)

* Selected work, Bienal Española de Arquitectura y Urbanismo BEAU (2021)

* Finalist work, Mapei Award Sustainable Architecture (2018)

* Special Mention, MatCOAM, Category – Sustainability (2018)

* Special Mention, Premio Arquitectura con Ñ, VETECO-ASEFAVE, Category – Solar Protection (2018)

* Nominated work, Gubbio Prize, European Section of Works (2018)

* Restricted Contest 1st prize (2016)

• Architects:
• elii - Uriel Fogué, Eva Gil, Carlos Palacios

• Team leader:
• elii - Ana López 

• Team - Competition:
• elii - Eduardo Castillo, María Rodríguez, Irene de Santos, Ana Castaño

• Team - Execution project:
• Lucía Fernández, Eduardo Castillo, María Rodríguez, Irene de Santos, Carlos Moles, Paula Rodríguez

• Surveyors:
• Dirtec - Javier González y Javier Mach

• Developer:
• Fundación Save The Children

• Structures:
• Mecanismo

• Mechanical:
• Úrculo Ingenieros

• Construction:
• Diadec

• Project Manager:
• Cushman & Wakefield - Iván Martín

• Photography and video:
• ImagenSubliminal – www.imagensubliminal.com
• (Miguel de Guzmán + Rocío Romero)

• Models:
• Ana López, Lucía Fernández, Eduardo Castillo, Laura Barros, Telmo Sagartzazu

• Surface:
• 483,48m2

• Date:
• 2016-18

• Location:
• Vallecas, Madrid