batlle i roig arquitectes: waste treatment facility from vallès occidental in vacarisses

the ‘waste treatment facility’ in vallès occidental, spain by spanish practice batlle i roig arquitectes has won the world production, energy and recycling building of the year from the 2011 world architecture festival. positioned on a hillside overlooking the coll cardús massif in vacarisses near barcelona, spain, this structure rests upon a controlled waste landfill landfill which is nearing its capacity limit. the managing body decided against closing the center and chose to study other possibilities for the site. the specific location of the building has been selected due to its already damaged state to reduce environmental impacts resulting from its installation and operation after construction.

image © francisco urrutia (also main image) | all images courtesy batlle i roig arquitectes

an elongated roof which covers the entire treatment areas visually expresses a driveway which bisects the program below which an angled step to adjust for the descending terrain. rainwater collection and energy from the biogas generated by the processing of the trash sustains by the building’s operations. a geometric pattern of assorted circles surfaces the extensive canopy containing vegetation, forced air vents and skylights. native groundcover and shrubs are planted within the planters while intermittent gravel and earth filled modules add color to the graphic arrangement.

translucent glass facade conceals treatment facilities inside
image © francisco urrutia

green roof planters
image © francisco urrutia

skylight
image © francisco urrutia

driveway which bisects the site
image © francisco urrutia

view of the structure from base of the hill
image © francisco urrutia

roof plan

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green wall detail

roof axonometric

project info:

authors: enric batlle, joan roig, architects
collaborators: xavier ramoneda, architect, mario suñer, architect, idema, engineering project
date: 2008
work date: 2010
area: 45.000m2
developer: consorci per a la gestió dels residus del vallès occidental
builder: ute ctr-valleys (hera, fcc and urbaser)
budget: 74.000.000 EUR
photography: francisco urrutia