Spanish lighting manufacturer
iGuzzini is getting ready to move into their new headquarters outside of
Barcelona. The fantastical ellipsoid building, designed by
MiAS Arquitectes, is like a balloon hovering over the ground and taking in light and and views of the external environment from all angles. Even cooler, part of the exterior of the office building is covered in a textile
shade screen designed to protect the interior from overheating without losing out on views and natural light.
Construction on the 9,000 sq m office space began in 2008 and it is now getting close to completion. A large underground space provides for storage, parking, a showroom, an auditorium and technical services. Above, the roof serves as an exterior technical floor and works like an outdoor showroom. Finally, the slightly deformed sphere with a bulge on the south serves as the office space. Inside, a large central void built from a single column forms the spine of the building from which all floors radiate out.
Natural daylight pours in through the central void as well as the exterior spherical walls providing greater control over the amount of energy used. The exterior of the building is surrounded by an exo skeleton frame and on this, a large fabric shade screen has been installed on most of the exterior to minimize solar heat gain. This protects the interior office space from glare and overheating and improves the interior light quality for an improved showroom experience.
+ MiAS Arquitectes
Via Plataforma Arquitectura
Lead photo by Adrià Goula
