Ecological concern and urban well-being are the driving forces behind AGi architects' proposal for the new headquarters of KFAS, the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science. In mid-2018, an international restricted competition was launched to design a new facility, along with a convention centre and a master plan for the area. International firms such as AZPML or Coop … [Read more...]
“Inbetween”. A proposal for a library in Montecarmelo, Madrid
The interior spaces of the city are very rarely permeable. Defined as private, the inside of the buildings are closed to any activity that has not been previously regulated and established as theirs. Our proposal for this library in Montecarmelo sought to create a type of non-consumerist, sheltered and equipped space that would welcome citizens to study, read, gather, speak, … [Read more...]
The greenhouse: architecture and desire
A greenhouse is one of the most striking elements in a garden. During the 19th century they became very fashionable: wealthy households were keen to incorporate one of them into their architecture. Maybe this is because greenhouses represent more than anything else the idea of architecture as a space of desire. They are also an architecture inevitably linked to European … [Read more...]
Mirador del Egüés. Bioclimatic dwellings in the Ecocity of Sarriguren
Valle de Egüés is a municipality located in the metropolitan area of Pamplona, north Spain, composed by several small towns. The capital of this valley is Sarriguren, a eco-friendly urban area settled in 1998. This eco-city is a pilot initiative of bioclimatic architecture and urbanism. In 2000, it was classified as "Good Practice" by the United Nations Centre for Human … [Read more...]
The Galician Castros: origins of the circular house in Galicia
Landscape and heritage 1964. Modernism in architecture was beginning to be criticized by the younger architects. However, the belief in modernity remained alive. The architect Bernard Rudofsky was preparing an exhibition at the New York’s MoMA. Architecture without Architects changed perceptions about "vernacular" architecture, or at least drew attention to it. … [Read more...]
Water Architectures
Between Kuwait and Spain. The influence of modernity. “¡Várgame San Rafael, / tener el agua tan cerca / y no poderla beber!” [Help me San Rafael, being so close to water / and not being able to drink it!] These lines are now being sung by Rosalía, a young Spanish flamenco singer. But they were written 70 years ago, for a film, "La blanca paloma", and for … [Read more...]
Leaders in Architecture MENA Summit
Sustainable architecture in the Middle East and the role of Boutique firms, main topics of our participation at Leaders in Architecture MENA Summit Joaquin Perez-Goicoechea and Nasser Abulhasan, Principals & Founders of AGi architects, have participated as panelists in the 4th Global edition of the “Leaders in Architecture MENA Summit”, held from 20-21 April in … [Read more...]
The integration of renewable energies in public spaces
In the last few years, out of necessity, urbanism is evolving towards a more sustainable and more resilient model. Cities are becoming hybrid spaces in which new technologies play an essential role, but they are also designed for citizens to make an open use of them. Undoubtedly, the integration of renewable energies in public spaces is linked to active citizen participation … [Read more...]
Inhabiting the desert: bioclimatic architecture and sustainability
When we talk about sustainability in architecture we are referring to taking a responsible attitude regards to the management of basic natural resources such as energy, water and soil, not only during the building process, but also in the resultant building, in a way that the environmental impact of the constructions is minimized. Thanks to our experience building in arid and … [Read more...]
Dynamic facades: A trend in contemporary facade architecture
The current trends with regarding facades are a phenomenon which deserves this separate chapter. For this reason, today we will discuss different dynamic facades as follows. We could say that in the last few years, an additional function has been added to the well-known aesthetic, waterproof and insulating (thermal and acoustic) facades’ functions, that is the minimization … [Read more...]