Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology

Urban Continuity — The building gently retracts at ground to align with the UPF building and metro entrance, preserving sidewalk continuity and alignment with Cerdas. As the building gradually expands, it leans towards the park creating an arcade facing Trias Fargas, welcoming the BIST community at the north/park side as well.

Default Volume & Ground Condition — The BIST default condition proposes a 9 story building with a corner entrance at the south and significant presence at Trias Fargas. Currently, the ground floor consists of different public spaces that seem to fragment rather than congregate the public realm.

Parking, Columns & Trees — Rather than proposing a different structure requiring transfers, we use the pre-existing parking columns as basis to our design. This economy of resources enables us to avoid expenditure below and instead allocate the financial investment above. The columns pierce the Agora to support the building, creating a forest of columns augmented by a forest of trees, a symbiosis between nature & man-made.

Expanding BIST, Expanding Atrium — Rather than being vertical, the atrium expands as the building grows. Aside from bringing natural light and ventilation, it incentivizes physical interaction as it creates cascading plateaus, stairs and breakout spaces connecting top to bottom.

AGORA + BIST — Rather than creating a split solution for the BIST and for the Agora, we propose that BIST and AGORA are one. By setting back the building at ground level the Agora becomes a single generous public plaza sheltered by the building - one meaningful united public space for the BIST and the UPF Campus.

Plaza Below, Terraces Above — BIST is a social building at its corer, promoting interactions inside and outside. At ground the city block recesses to create a generous public plaza, above we propose outdoor terraces dedicated to the BIST community, overseeing the Agora, city and sea.

Social Heart — In the heart of the building, on the north and south side of the atrium, are the main areas dedicated to meetings and occasional encounters. Facing the park are spaces dedicated to open offices, hot desking or other work constellations. Facing the agora are spaces for creative and informal activities.

L´Umbracle — L´Umbracle is envisioned as a new social, educational and scientific center for BIST, UPF and Barcelona. The chamfered city block creates and shelters a new urban center - the Agora - while breeding a creative and experimental laboratory hub sustained by a dream-like forest of columns and trees.

Rational, Pragmatic & Flexible Labs — The labs are designed as two pragmatic building blocks flanking the social space. The wetlabs, facing north/park, are stacked vertically for loads, vibration and shafts optimization purposes, whereas dry labs labs face the Agora.

Lobby as Connector / Portico — Rather than creating an underground courtyard to the UPF, the Agora+Lobby provide that connection together. The Agora tilts gently towards the building entrance and continues descending to the UPF. Aside from gaining additional height, the lobby becomes a key hub of the campus, the crossroad of Agora-Park and UPF-Wellington.