United Bank | Vilalta Architects

Addis Ababa / Ethiopia / 2012

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The site of the project is located in the growing financial Avenue of Lideta district in Addis Ababa. It has a very characteristic location defined by a corner of two important streets. The design stands from the other buildings, perpendicular or parallel to the main street, by taking advantage of the characteristics that define the plot. 


We started thinking about the shape and structure of an ordinary tower and podium. We divided and shifted the volume to improve natural light and ventilation conditions. Thinking about the sun and singularity, we rotated the volumes to orientate the main spaces North-South, creating a thermal difference that benefits cross ventilation and significantly reduces the main wind structural load from the East-West direction. Natural sustainable strategies are complemented with active engineering systems, such as solar photovoltaic panels on the porches and a general recycling water system to re-use both rain and grey water. The skin is a curtain wall of transparent glass protected by horizontal aluminum brise-soleil composed with plates that are tighter in the south side and wider in the north to keep regular interior light levels. 


 


[ES]


La parcela se ubica en la avenida principal del distrito financiero de Addis Abeba. Tiene una forma muy característica definida por el cruce de dos calles principales. El proyecto parte de la forma y la estructura de una torre común con podio para convertirla en un proyecto singular a través de una serie de estrategias de diseño sostenible. Dividimos y desplazamos el volumen para mejorar la iluminación y ventilación naturales. Rotamos los volúmenes para generar singularidad y para orientar los espacios principales Norte-Sur creando una diferencia térmica que beneficia la ventilación cruzada.


Esta orientación también reduce significativamente la carga estructural principal, la del viento de la dirección Este-Oeste. Las estrategias pasivas se complementan con sistemas activos de ingeniería, como paneles solares fotovoltaicos en los porches y un sistema general de reciclaje de agua que reutiliza el agua de lluvia y las aguas grises. La piel es un muro cortina de vidrio transparente protegido por un brise-soleil de elementos horizontales de aluminio , con un espaciado más denso en el lado sur y más amplio en el norte para mantener regular el nivel de luz interior.


 

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    The site of the project is located in the growing financial Avenue of Lideta district in Addis Ababa. It has a very characteristic location defined by a corner of two important streets. The design stands from the other buildings, perpendicular or parallel to the main street, by taking advantage of the characteristics that define the plot.  We started thinking about the shape and structure of an ordinary tower and podium. We divided and shifted the volume to improve natural light and...

    Project details
    • Year 2012
    • Status Competition works
    • Type Office Buildings / Business Centers / Banks / Shopping Malls
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