Case Study

Alberto Kalach, Architect
Mexico City, Mexico
Maria Carmela Bruno
Gabriela Gonzalez
Rachel Birdsell
Vasconcelos Library
Biblioteca Vasconcelos
ALBERTO KALACK
Alberto Kalach was born in Mexico City, studied
architecture at the Universidad Iberoamericana,
Mexico City, and completed graduate studies later
at Cornell University in Ithaca. In 1981 he founded
the firm "Taller de Arquitectura X" with Daniel
Álvarez, with whom he worked until 2002, when
Álvarez left the firm. While he continues to direct
TAX, in 2002 his interests also turned to the urban
planning problems of his home town, and founded
the community "México: future
city" (Spanish: México: ciudad futura). He realized
several joint projects, some of them with notable
colleagues like Teodoro González de León, Gustavo
Lipkau and Jose Castillo. His lake concepts were
significant in solving existing water supply problems
in Mexico City. He published several articles in
national and international magazines of
architecture, and participates in the "Recovering the
City of Lakes" project(Spanish: Vuelta a la ciudad
lacustre)]
2
Context
Mexico City
Urban Population 21.2 millions3
1 library for every 14,706 habitants (2007)
80% of the Consultations made by students
¿How is it placed in the context?
“’Create a modern monument that serves as an anchor for the civic
consciousness of a Metropolis’ - Ledoux”
-Betsky referring to the project
Renovate
the
surrounding
context
ecologically
and civilly.
Symbiosis
between
nature and
construction
N
Current Context
Serve as an articulation between:
Insurgentes
Norte
Colonia
Guerrero
Surroundings
Entrance through
a public plaza.
Surrounding areas are
composed by a aggressive
and contaminated context.
Conditions
in Mexico
allow for
vegetation
to be very
prominent.
Mexico’s City Climate (Avg. 2010)
Concept
Offices
Bookstore
Auditorium
Greenhouse
15
The of rooms comes from the situation
with respect to the great central space, which forms the
vertebra of the library.
The Garden and the Ark
Section of the project at the contest phase.
The balance between culture and nature, achieved 16
by
the measure of knowledge and human culture,
complemented by the botanical garden.
“Timeless and unformulated as a
ruin. Indifferent to recent currents.”
- Miguel Adriá
17
18
Construction Pictures
No coatings or finishes.
He wanted nature to fill the space with time.
19
No coatings or finishes.
He wanted nature to fill the space with time.
Fluxes - Circulation
PEOPLE
CARS
LONGITUDINAL SECTION_FLUXES
1° FLOOR PLAN_CIRCULATION
FLUXES-CIRCULATION
21
1° FLOOR PLAN_CIRCULATION
/Users/mac/Desktop/
PROJECTO INTEGRADORES 1/
Biblioteca Publica de Mexico/
BV2_20100829_0339v4-­‐
1000x.jpg
SPATIAL HIERARCHY
22
PARASITE ARCHITECTURE_SHELVING
SHELL_FUNCTIONS,CENTRALITIES
SPATIAL HIERARCHY
23
CENTRIPETAL ARCHITECTURE
FUNCTIONS_EXTERIOR VIEW
24
BUILDING C
BUILDING B
BOTANIC GARDENS
BUILDING A
BOOKSHOP
MAIN ENTRANCE
N
BOOKSHOP
MAIN ENTRANCE
GARDEN_EASTSIDE
GARDEN_WESTSIDE
FUNCTIONS_3° FLOOR
25
SHELVING
READING ROOMS
N
READING ROOM_SOUTH
READING ROOM_NORTH
SHELVING
SHELVING
FUNCTIONS_2° FLOOR
SERVICES/STAIRCASES
SHELVING
READING ROOMS
N
SERVICES/STAIRCASES
SHELVING
READING ROOM
READING ROOM
FUNCTIONS_1° FLOOR
SERVICES/STAIRCASES
SHELVING
MEZZANINES
LIBRARY SERVICES
DIGITAL AREA
N
DIGITAL AREA
SERVICES/STAIRCASES
LIBRARY SERVICES
MEZZANINES
FUNCTIONS_1° FLOOR
AUDITORIUM
PERIODICALS ROOM
TECNICAL ROOM
POLIFUNCTIONAL ROOM
MUSIC ROOM
KIDS AREA
MULTIMEDIA ROOM
POLIFUNCTIONAL ROOM
REGISTRATION POINT
BRAILLE AREA
INFOPOINT
EXHIBITION AREA
N
BRAILLE AREA
MUSIC ROOM
AUDITORIUM
EXHIBITION AREA
PERIODICALS ROOM
» Steel, concrete, and glass structure
» Rigid concrete macro-frames support the floor slabs and the 3 reading room
levels
˃ Slabs have a double-shell grid structure with polystyrene insulation
» Shelving is an independent structure
˃ Suspended from the top of the frames by a system of secondary beams and steel tensors
˃ This secondary structure reduces possible seismic motion from the weight of the books
» Saw tooth roof (with North orientation) allows uniform natural lighting
» Building was closed temporarily in 2007 to repair water filtration system and finish construction
structure
» Building systems are centralized » Building has natural ventilation ˃ HVAC is exposed at top of three upper levels ˃ Efficient natural ventilation decreases use of air conditioning » Botanical Garden provides climatic regulation ˃ Reduces the urban heat island effect ˃ Green roofs » Building has a blinds system, controlled by a centralized computer system » Water collection, recirculation, and sprinkler systems are imperative for the care and maintenance of the botanical garden » Underground parking is offered on site ˃ Access to the building from the parking garage
building systems
» http://www.archdaily.com/98584/vasconcelos-­‐library-­‐alberto-­‐kalach/ » http://curtispattee.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2013/02/jose-­‐vascoblabla.pdf » http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/070522kalach.asp » Biblioteca Vasconcelos Library. Arquine + RM, 2007. (Book) www.bibliotecavasconcelos.gob.mx
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