Completed
Awarded
Eternally in Process
Research
Past Lives
CANArchitecture and Urbanism competition
2013
Colombia
OMA
Role:
Junior Architect on Local Team
Competition: Awarded First Prize
The CAN is the mixed-use-civic center located in the midpoint of Calle 26, the city´s main axis that joins the historic downtown, the financial district and the airport, the international gateway of Colombia. It will now serve as the new city center and government headquarters with a mixed use program of residential, educational, retail and cultural developments.
With the size as large as the National Mall in Washington DC, the proposed master plan utilizes a curved public space axis to connect the adjacent natural park Simon Bolivar and the National University, with the calle 26.
With the size as large as the National Mall in Washington DC, the proposed master plan utilizes a curved public space axis to connect the adjacent natural park Simon Bolivar and the National University, with the calle 26.
The arc creates a clear urban identity while accommodating the program's diversity.
“Our proposal enables CAN to be a lively node, providing a continuous public domain that curves through the site to connect the park, the university and Calle 26. With a single gesture, the arc achieves a clear urban identity while accommodating programmatic diversity.” Shohei Shigematsu
“Our proposal enables CAN to be a lively node, providing a continuous public domain that curves through the site to connect the park, the university and Calle 26. With a single gesture, the arc achieves a clear urban identity while accommodating programmatic diversity.” Shohei Shigematsu
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Although the structural modifications were minimal, the ambiance of the spaces was completely transformed by particular design elements. An example of this is the reading niche. A space that envelops, that allows to be in silence. Taking advantage of the fact that there was an excess of closets in the main room, 4 doors were removed and a custom-made piece of furniture was designed to create a space of silence and permanence. It opens another possibility to inhabit the room.
In the kitchen environment, we rescued one of the strong characteristics of the Spaniards; their culinary tradition, but not in the sense of the dish itself, but in the act of gathering with friends and family around the food. For this reason, an aperitif table was designed to be the heart of the house. Emulating a tapas bar, just outside the kitchen, the space was designed to wrap around a long, tall bar composed of brightly colored tiles.
In the kitchen environment, we rescued one of the strong characteristics of the Spaniards; their culinary tradition, but not in the sense of the dish itself, but in the act of gathering with friends and family around the food. For this reason, an aperitif table was designed to be the heart of the house. Emulating a tapas bar, just outside the kitchen, the space was designed to wrap around a long, tall bar composed of brightly colored tiles.
We wanted to create an encounter with beauty in every corner of the house, giving importance to the small details. These are the ones that tell the story of the house: a yellow dictionary of the Spanish language, ceramics that captivate with their simple shapes, and a family of cactus that crown the central corridor of the house.
We also wanted to create this experience through light, which plays a fundamental role in the space. Not only as lighting but also as design objects. In the dining room, it is the lamp that focuses the eye, as a red line that goes up between a mint green wall, then across the ceiling and then down over the table. At the snack bar, there are two circles that dialogue with the door frames and are distributed along the tiles. And the rooms as points of color that play with the beds.
We also wanted to create this experience through light, which plays a fundamental role in the space. Not only as lighting but also as design objects. In the dining room, it is the lamp that focuses the eye, as a red line that goes up between a mint green wall, then across the ceiling and then down over the table. At the snack bar, there are two circles that dialogue with the door frames and are distributed along the tiles. And the rooms as points of color that play with the beds.