CHILEAN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM, PEZO VON ELLRICHSHAUSEN, ENCOURAGES INNOVATION AND INSPIRES CREATIVITY FOR THE USERS IN HIS LATEST PROJECT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BÍO-BÍO IN CONCEPCION, CHILE THROUGH THE ICONIC, IDIOSYNCRATIC, AND DYNAMIC SPACE CONSTRUCTED FROM A SIMPLISTIC GEOMETRICAL FORM
TEXT: PRATCHAYAPOL LERTWICHA
PHOTO COURTESY OF PEZO VON ELLRICHSHAUSEN
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Chilean architecture frim, Pezo Von Ellrichshausen, once again demonstrates their magnificent minds and skills with a masterful and brilliant use of simple geometric forms (circles in particular) with INES Innovation Center of the University of Bío-Bío in Concepcion, Chile.
While the simple-looking, earthy-red concrete five-story structure may seem anti-climactic and underwhelming for the title Innovation Center, but looking closely, one can begin to notice the exciting elements incorporated in the design. From the semicircle openings accompanying the sun protection fins, which run around the building to the mesmerizing interior space where the spherical atrium and rooms with curved walls enclose the four corners of the building.
These interesting components came alive from the architecture team’s idea to create a space that encourages and inspires innovations and creativity. Instead of taking the path of futuristic design, the design team decided on the use of a simplistic geometrical form such as the circle to create an interior program of subtle yet intriguing complexity. The circular void of the atrium grows smaller in size as it ascends to the higher floors while some of the rooms at the corners become larger. The expansion of the atrium and room sizes naturally allows for the interior space on each floor to attain its own unique character.
Not only does the design inspire its users with the idiosyncratic space it creates, the atrium connecting every floor is also intended to enable interactions between users. The rooms surrounding the atrium on each of the floors are varied in sizes, granting the flexibility to accommodate different usages and activities of various scales from exhibitions to workshops or private meetings. Together, the interior and architectural program create functional spaces of great dynamism and adaptabilities, reflecting how innovations are born from ideas that break away from conventions.
We don’t know what kind of innovations will come out from INES Innovation Center but one thing we know for sure is that this building has definitely put Peso Von Ellrichshausen on the world’s architectural radar.
