Emerald Building

What was the concept behind the project?

The main idea and inspiration are an Emerald, for the particular color and geometric design on jewelry

The design on and Emerald symmetry and color, along with the volumetry of the building design as a dress.

Our intention is to be as sustainable as possible, and one area is dedicated to collect clothes and any type of textiles to be able to reduce raw material, the organization we will be working with to recycle is https://refashion.fr/citoyen/fr/point-dapport that is ubicated in Paris

ClothesPants, shirts, t-shirts, sweaters, dresses, coats, jogging bottoms, sweatshirts etc.

Underwear and accessoriesSocks, underwear, gloves, scarves, hats, scarves, boxer shorts, swimsuits, tights, layettes, etc.

The shoesSports, city, sandals, flip flops, boots, etc. But not technical shoes (rollerblades, ski boots, etc.).

LinensTable and bath towels, fabric tablecloths, washcloths, bed sets, tea towels, kitchen aprons, curtains, veils, etc.

What was the intent behind the organization of elements across various levels (Architectural, Site, Urban)?

Our organization is based on the use that people are going to make of the building, in this case for fashion shows and public events, first on the first floor, the main entrance is a large plaza, arriving directly from the parking lot, in it is the statue that represents our concept, following the entrance in the lobby that leads to the showrooms, which are completely public, one for permanent exhibition and the other temporary.

The restrooms are strategically located on the sides, the main walkway area is the largest area and has a direct view of the garden and outdoor walkway.

On the sides are the restaurant and coffee bar, both of which overlook the river.

Upstairs are the rest of the services such as the auditoriums, green rooms, file area, administration, meeting room and workshop 

How many iterations were tried to arrive at the final outcome?

We had 3 design proposals, which we were integrating into one, starting with the idea of making a dome, moving to a more conceptual design idea, for this we had to conduct a study of the terrain, where it is located, how is the path of the sun and the prevailing winds in the area, then we began to make a general zoning to divide the spaces to be integrated, for this we created an analysis of the importance of the spaces, which gave us as a result that the walkways are the most important space of the building, followed by the green rooms and exhibition areas, with that we determined the size of these spaces.

Which methods of design investigation?

Our design method was to start from a fixed concept, in this case the shape of the emerald and a simple dress, of which we made the main sketches, the symmetrical conceptual shape, our main design are organic shapes, whose main objective is to blend the interior and exterior spaces harmoniously.

How was the programme condensed into final?

In the end, everything was concentrated in the design of the interior and exterior walkway, mainly in the exterior one, since a special furniture was made to be able to observe exterior walkways and at the same time to use it as a place for leisure and rest, which shows us the versatility of the space in this project.

 What/How were the materials chosen?

The materials chosen are mainly tempered glass for the doors and windows in greenish tones, with that we adapted and combined with the natural area of the river, besides that it works very well to help the passage of light without being too strong or annoying, it has resistance to temperature change and is has a higher bending strength.

Wood is another of the main materials in the project, with the light wood strips we created a double skin that, together with the glass, envelopes the building, this brings many benefits including having greater ventilation, allowing air to flow through the intermediate cavity, acts as insulation against extreme temperatures, wind and noise, improving the thermal efficiency of the building in cold and hot climates and finally allow views and natural light to enter.

What is the expansion plan of the project?

The expansion plan of the project is defined by the separation of the floors, the first stage (second floor) is more general and only for fashion related events, the second stage (top floor) already integrates a more commercial concept with the integration of offices, auditoriums, and workshop.

How will the project transform with the passing time? 

Our plans for the future projection of the building is to be able to host all kinds of fashion events, to be able to adapt within our space for any runway, both indoor and outdoor, the furniture is very versatile and the space can be easily adapted for exhibition needs.

With this we are looking to avoid having to create scenarios from scratch, which are too complex and leave a sea of pollution in their wake.

Also, with the second stage of the project, it is possible to work all the time in the administrative areas and the workshop is one of the main garment collectors, where the separation of recycled products will take place.