rafael de la-hoz forms horizontal university building on the outskirts of madrid

rafael de la-hoz forms horizontal university building on the outskirts of madrid
photography by alfonso quiroga

inaugurated with the name of the famous castilian writer miguel delibes, the new 6,000 square meters espacio miguel delibes university building in the avenida pablo iglesias of alcobendas, spain is located in one of the newer districts of the city. wanting to create a open and dynamic hub of activity, the proposal by spanish architect rafael de la-hoz consists of three volumes that clearly differ from each other but are completely interrelated: a glazed cube, a massive volume of greater height and a horizontal perimeter crown, which rises from the ground and creates another space, a place of convergence and exchange. meanwhile, the gap generated by the perimeter crown forms a large void, a spacious patio in which the other two volumes are inserted, leaving spaces filled with air and light between them. this results in two opposed patios in terms of size, proportions and orientation. the bigger one is a landscaped whereas the second is a vertical summer patio that provides shade in the summer.

an open and dynamic center with a singular volumetry.

the glazed central volume represents the core of the concept where it will host the multipurpose hall on the ground floor and the general vestibule of the building. at the core of the complex, between the two patios and tangential to the perimeter volume sits a cubed glass building which at night turns into a lantern due to its crystal-like materiality. the areas around the perimeter consists of the lecture halls and workrooms of the university. the citizen’s advice service (sac), the photoespaña international centre, the teacher’s room and the direction are also included in the large volume where each have independent use and access from the street. simultaneously, they can thus be used at different times and in different ways, allowing complete flexibility of the whole complex.

a building with three bodies that clearly differ from each other

the three volumes are completely interrelated

a glazed cube, a massive volume of greater height and a horizontal perimeter crown

the gap generated by the perimeter crown forms a large void

the glazed central volume represents the core of the concept

the glazed volume will host the multipurpose hall on the ground floor and the general vestibule

each of these volumes have independent use and access from the street

due to the crystalline materiality, the central volume acts as a large lantern at night

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edited by: natasha kwok | designboom