Comment of the Holcim Awards 2005 Jury for Latin America
The work is notable for its outstanding approach to articulating sustainable construction technology. The work is unique in its use of non-conventional materials like cooper and aluminum for roofing as well as proposing the implementation of sophisticated water retention slabs.
Conceived as part of a “living organism,” the adaptable roof is a commendable innovation in its own right, altering its geometry in order to effectively collect solar radiation in winter and provide shade in the summer.
Such measures make the building very energy efficient and promise to have a remarkable aesthetic impact on the community. The research expands the notion of ecological sensitivity to include architectural and material performance as a driving force in environmental processes.
The work also displays a keen awareness of siting strategies and how to capitalize on existing features of the context in order to maximize a beneficial effect. This makes the project all the more interesting as a hybrid between architectural, urban, and environmental design.
The project skillfully recognizes that issues of sustainability extend beyond a finite artifact to include the interaction of material forces. Overall, this scheme presents an exciting exploration of tectonic ingenuity.