Media-TIC in the Smart City
In traditional understanding a building is a structure of reinforced concrete, bricks or wood, in other words, firm construction materials. In any case, implementation of polymeric materials as the building envelopes are usually limited to temporary structures of sports or commercial facilities. But it seems that it is time to brand new buildings, and stereotypes are crumbling before our very eyes. And such an innovative architecture is created by the most successful “green” architect in the world - Enric Ruiz Geli.
The unique office complex Media- TIC in the new 22@Barcelona district was designed by Spanish architectural firm Cloud 9 led by Enric Ruiz Geli. In 2011 the project was awarded as the “Best Building of the world.” Such a high recognition the project received on the results of the most significant and brightest architectural event of the year - the World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Barcelona. For this title fought hundreds of the completed projects designers from dozens of countries. Media-TIC was selected from among 16 finalists in all categories and was awarded the highest accolades of the jury, which included the most famous and influential architects and city planners around the world. For the first time of the WAF history its grand prize was awarded the project realized in a country where the festival took place. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Paul Finch, director and chief ideologist of the WAF, said that the Media-TIC attracts people with very different ideas. The project has won, he added, because the scale of its ambitions in a good sense of the word, as well as the highest level of its professional and technical solutions. The building is an example of the innovative environmental solutions implementation and gives a new impetus to the dialogue on the critical issues of energy consumption and sustainable development. The transition to a new level of interaction with the environment poses new challenges to architects, and its solution turns possible just taking on a huge responsibility. Media-TIC project clearly demonstrates that in the world are professionals who not only put forward innovative ideas in architecture and design, but also are able to realize them.
Spanish architects are especially attentive to the natural environment, following and developing the ideas of the great Antonio Gaudi. But today’s approach is different. “We take from nature not the geometry of architectural forms - says Enric Ruiz Geli - and try to reproduce in our structures its deepest ins and outs. Analyzing the complicated interaction of natural processes, we believe that it is necessary to create buildings that would not violate the natural harmony, but embed in the environment or at least would not harm it. We are in love with nature, but not as bystanders but as scientists, creators, who have a burden of responsibility to future generations for the ideas we implement today.”
Full version you can download here
Materials provided by Cloud 9