Edificio Veles E Vents
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| Source: Own Photo |
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| Source: Own Photo |
Situated at the port of Valencia, David Chipperfield converted the area into a focal point for social events, predominantly designed for the 2007 America’s Cup. The use of material reflects its minimalistic form, primarily consisting of only 3 elements: concrete, metal and timber. The concrete building is designed in a way so that the each floor is stacked and overlapped to provide shade and open views of the sea whilst accommodating to the strong coastal winds. Each floor slab is cantilevered to achieved this effect. The ceiling is made of materials that can withstand heavy loads such as aluminium and steel whilst the facade is made of steel and glass curtain walling. Due to the proximity to the sea and metal’s tendency to rust with the presence of water, the steel cladding is primed with protective coating, which gives it its white finish. Moreover, seawater containing dissolved sulphate can corrode the concrete structure as a result of external sulphate attack. A protective layer of epoxy or acrylic resin can be used to preserve/protect concrete.
Timber is used for the floor of the open platforms; although no significant signs of deterioration are seen, problems in the future may arise as dampness, overexposure to sunlight and windy conditions can cause oxidation, weathering and fungal attack to the timber. At the end of the building life cycle, the usage of timber wouldn’t be dissimilar to that of El Musical, however, reusing it may be a problem as it is likely that the seawater and exterior condition will have weathered it down. Like Ciudad de Las Artes y Ciencias, concrete can be recycled in the same way.
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| Source: Own Photo |
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