PERMEATE: Besòs Community Complex
SITE and SYSTEMS
INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED ARCHITECTURE OF CATALONIA, BARCELONA, SPAIN | SPRING 2021
PARTNER: Paulina Sevilla
FACULTY: Javier García-Germán, Miquel Rodriquez, Guillermo Sevillano, Elena Orte, et. al.
PERMEATE is a dynamic tapestry of terrestrial and aquatic life. The community complex will become an integral part of a revitalized neighborhood a few blocks for the Besòs river, one of Barcelona’s primary sources of water. As it orchestrates flows of air, water, and organisms across the site, the complex provides opportunities for exchanges of nutrients, knowledge, and meaningful relationships.
CLIMATIC STRATEGY and FORM FINDING
As we familiarized ourselves with the mild Mediterranean climate, we studied the wind and sun patterns which have a critical effect on Barcelona inhabitants’ ways of life. We developed the following climatic strategies:
Summer:
1. Cool the air within interior and exterior spaces
2. Minimize solar heat gain
3. Provide diffuse natural lighting
4. Provide thermal inertia to regulate interior temperature
Winter:
1. Provide direct and diffuse natural light
2. Provide solar heat gain
3. Provide thermal inertia to regulate interior temperature
Hot Barcelona summers necessitate passive ventilation and sun shading.
Passive heating strategies are crucial in Barcelona winters, and will most likely be supplemented by active heating systems.
The building façade and massing should facilitate cross ventilation from the North and Southwest.
The building should protect against frigid winter winds from the North and West.
The form of our building was dictated by several site- and climate-specific forces. The primary design move generated access to green space through the creation of interior patios, which allow various points of access to the urban context. We staggered the massing of the upper apartments to permit greater site-wide access to sunlight. Our variety of roof and plaza functions include aquaponic greenhouses, solar panels, greywater filtration and storage, and gathering space.
Site Section: Summer (A.1)
Site Section: Winter (A.2)
The vibrant collage of functions on the ground floor includes a mix of industrial, commercial, and cultural spaces centered around an industrial fish farm and distributed aquaponics. The apartment complex above includes such amenities as communal kitchens, childcare areas, laundry room, skillsharing and workshop areas, libraries, and childcare spaces. The building’s design prioritizes the comfort of its inhabitants and their engagement with the dynamic community around them.
WATER SYSTEMS
Water, and lack thereof, has always been a defining characteristic of Barcelona life. Just a few blocks from the recently regenerated Besòs river and 3km from the Mediterranean Sea, PERMEATE situates itself physically and systematically within the complex city-wide networks of water systems and organisms.
The site-wide aquaponics scheme involves the exchange of nutrient-rich water between its aquaculture (industrial fish farm) and hydroponic (greenhouse) elements. While the upper plaza and roof spaces maximize the greenhouse’s exposure to natural light, the more publicly accessible ground floors are home to the industrial fish farm and related programs: aquaculture training and workshops, a fish market, experimental aquaponic spaces, and more.
A Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) helps to conserve water and limit wastewater in the massive fish tanks.
Especially given the seafood-rich local diet, the site becomes an amenity for both residents and the surrounding community.
Rainwater is collected from every roof surface and apartment balcony, filtered, and stored in the public pool in the gym space. All domestic greywater is captured and, together with pool wastewater, is filtered in part by secondary vertical and horizontal natural greywater filtration areas on the roof. This water is then used to flush all toilets and to water the surrounding landscape.
Schematic Water Strategy
Systems Section (B)
Systems Section (C)