Return to the simplicity of the past. Castillo-Miras arquitectos.
Friday 24th of May 2013 09:35:08 AM Thursday 23rd of May 2013 09:35:08 AM
New Urban Waterfront
Castano Primo (Milano) - Italy
ARKESI Officina di architettura studio associato, Michela Bettili e Mirko Picco - Edilizia residenziale
Taxos Extreme Active, Silver Ground Active, Quarzite Ceniza Extreme Active, Quarzite Blanca Extreme Active (150x75 cm, 75x75 cm, 75x37,5 cm, 120x60 cm, 120x30 cm, 60x30 cm) : 6800 mq (ca.)
Sustainability is not just a matter of putting in green spaces, but ensuring that the architecture is eco-active and participates in the environment.
The buildings are located in the Valle del Ticino Natural Park on the nineteenth century Villoresi Canal, thus requalifying a section of urban waterfront which is of particular value to the city. The buildings are geometrical volumes which are rotated on their own axes to counter their regularity. This results in a more fluid and dynamic composition of the whole.
The southern roof is composed of petals emerging from the regular forms of the northern structure. Just as a bud loses its regularity when the flower blooms, the building changes its aspect as it rotates from north to south, like a sculpture taking form. The project includes a green connecting area. The main buildings, intended as residences, have 6 storeys and underground parking; they are designed to energy class A and include renewable power and water recycling. The attempt to achieve an overall eco-balance of 0 has led us to choose ACTIVE porcelain stoneware. It will be used on the curtain walls, wall coverings, roof coverings, pilotis-supported floors, for
the interior of the structure and for the cafeteria, both for the leaf shaped roof and for the interiors where, along with its anti-pollution action, its antibacterial properties are of particular value. The fixed outdoors furnishings of the bar will be covered in ACTIVE. The small public square is a compass of the winds, with a fountain at each cardinal point. The fountains are covered with the Xpressive collection and their colours and locations symbolise the seasons.
They are coated with Active slabs at their feet. In laying around 6,800 m2 of Active materials, we will create what we call an "invisible forest" of around 200 trees, with a strong environmental and symbolic statement.
