pezo von ellrichshausen's INES innovation center has 'unexpected and exaggerated interior'

pezo von ellrichshausen has completed the INES innovation center in concepción, chile, which, in contrast to its external appearance, contains an ‘unexpected and exaggerated interior’. the architects explain that the building’s fluid and open interior translates the creative processes of academic practice, reflecting the true nature of innovation and discovery. however, the concrete structure also contains private spaces suitable for individual work or more focused study.

all images © pezo von ellrichshausen

‘this is an apparently simple, stable and regular building that contains an unexpected and exaggerated interior,’ explains pezo von ellrichshausen, the firm led by mauricio pezo and sofia von ellrichshausen. ‘this is the world of innovation; a continuous, fluid and open space that conceptually and physically translates the creative processes of academic practice, that sequential development of formal research or the reversible and multiple dimension associated with informal knowledge.’

the building’s open core establishes a series of vertically interconnected halls, with a circular void that reduces its size as the floors ascend. these spaces, with their concrete surfaces left exposed, contrast the private working areas that occupy the corners of every level. lined with timber and offering views of the building’s surroundings, these spaces grow in size as the structure ascends.

‘instead of the traditional system of pillars within a non differentiated and non hierarchical grid, this office plan also provides specific rooms for exhibitions, workshops and meetings, visual and acoustically controlled by the curved walls that work like opaque screens,’ pezo von ellrichshausen continues. ‘the character and diversity of the resulting space somehow promotes the dynamics of a non categorized work (or with ever changing positions) between professors, students, researchers, entrepreneurs and the local communities.’ see other projects by the architects on designboom here, including a house that is embedded into the terrain of coastal chile.

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project info:

name: INES (innovation center)
location: collao campus, concepcion, VIII region, chile
client: universidad del bio-bio
architects: pezo von ellrichshausen: mauricio pezo, sofia von ellrichshausen
collaborators: aleksi vicic, eva de hovre, diego perez, sofie taveirne, victoria bodevin, caitlyn flowers
structure: luis mendieta
consultants: citec, DyLuz
plot surface: 245,479 sqm / 2,642,314 sqf
built surface: 2,000 sqm / 21,528 sqf
design date: 2013-2015
construction date: 2019-2020