Alcoy is a city full of potential. Indeed, the city has its every natural condition which is under harmonious developments. Yet, seemingly alike a classical urban form (from ancient city center to new attractions around the train stations and main infrastructures…), Alcoy’s context differs with other cities thanks to its special geographical position as well as the richness of its environment.
Nowadays, the city transforms with consciousness its economical activities (from industrial sector to more balanced growth). This new adaptation with the needs and evolutions of the society creates reviews and orientations for some strategic site, one of which the Plaza Al-Azraq. Called “urban gap”, the site is actually awaiting for a new visage (a new Central Hub). This is a Hub with recommendations of being an “avant-garde architecture, a usage program that can attend to all the needs of the surrounding zone… to shape the desired productive, sustainable and integrating city”.
Indeed, and moreover, we would like to inspire from people and their means of experiencing public-private space to give the project a new identity. The site of “Plaza Al-Azraq” surrounded by several attractions and potential connections.
The connection could be created by programs, mostly attractive programs that intrigue people to come and discover them. While at first view, it is obvious that there’s a need of openness toward the square Al Azraq. However, composing the way that space should be exposed would bring more curiosity and protection to the “inner” space. The envy of discovery leads people to a certain environment to enjoy their experiences.
Inspirations
_ “Mille-Feuilles” is a metaphor. It expresses the superposition of various spatial layers. There is no limit between interior and exterior. One can imagines a stacking program that gives live to the structure that supports it. “Mille-Feuilles” is also an expression of the spatial porosity. Under “Thousand of Leaves” ( translation of Mille-Feuilles) the space is connected at its every edges: on-under, in front-behind, left-right…
_ The Square is one important public element of Spanish culture. It is there where most relationships are forged, where its micro-climate invite people to go out and share, where nature and human are one.
_The Vertical experience (Vertical Square) is special. Our vision differs when we pass vertical space instead of horizontal space. It is true that walking 30m long can’t compete to rising 30h high of altitude. We oversee a square, a district, a city integrally.
_ The Weather of Alcoy is due to its altitude and continental position. It is not such hard climate’s condition, however without an intelligent study of volume and mass, the new building might not reach its goal of a sustainable project. There actually have a possibility of stagnation of humid air, fog, low rainfall in summer, etc. How to adjust these parameters before being able to exploit it? Which structure that allows best profit from the continental weather ? How to generate positive environment within existing context ? It is true that Mother Nature create for men the space where we can inhabit comfortably. We are inspired by the experience of walking underneath a forest where different layers of leaves protect and generate special environment with its own smells, noises, humidity, lights, airs… Somehow Mille-Feuilles is our expression in search for this experience.
_The Tower of Consciousness shows strength, power of meaningful building. Being the principal element of the project where people pass by everyday to reach their activities. Here while waiting for the elevator, one can checkout information of Carbon emission, energy that is used-generated, or even free fruit exchange from their own plant within the building… Everyone is invited to not only Use the Building-Environment, but also Contribute and Understand the space they Experience.