Ágora València, World Design Capital Valencia 2022 Pavilion
Àgora València is a project of València World Design Capital 2022 and the City Council of València, and takes over from the pavilions that were once erected in other capitals such as Helsinki and Taipei.
Thanks to this building, the city celebrates with its inhabitants and visitors its status as a global epicentre of design, and gains a space open to the public as a legacy of the transforming power of design. A place open to society as a whole, conceived to bring design to the general public.
National
Spain
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Mainly urban
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
No
No
Yes
2022-06-17
As a representative of an organization, in partnership with other organisations
Name of the organisation(s): Arqueha, Architecture and Urbanism Type of organisation: For-profit company First name of representative: Ricardo Last name of representative: García Fernández Gender: Male Nationality: Spain Function: Marketing Manager Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Street Marvà 19 Town: Valencia Postal code: 46007 Country: Spain Direct Tel:+34 607 98 54 01 E-mail:rgarcia@arqueha.com Website:https://www.arqueha.com/
Name of the organisation(s): World Design Capital Valencia 2022 Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Alicia Last name of representative: Matallín Gender: Female Nationality: Spain Function: Communications and Media Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Carrer del Moll de la Duana, s/n, Town: València Postal code: 46024 Country: Spain Direct Tel:+34 607 37 76 48 E-mail:alicia@fundaciodisseny.com Website:https://www.wdcvalencia2022.com/es/
Àgora València is a project of València World Design Capital 2022 and the City Council of València with the support of the Diputació de València and La Marina de València.
The purpose of Àgora València is reflected in the materials and manufacture of the space and in its construction, which fuses tradition and the avant-garde, craftsmanship and industry, using only wood and a material similar to ceramic known as MDi.
As a vehicle and driving force for the democratisation of design, construction hosts activities open to all audiences, the ecosystem of professionals and organisations and companies with the aim of involving all citizens in design throughout the year.
Located in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Àgora València consists of a structure with floor dimensions of 24 by 10 metres and a height of 9 metres.
With a surface area of 350 square metres, this modular pavilion tells the story of the renowned design born on the shores of the Mediterranean, of materials arising from ceramic innovation and of traditions such as the vareta. The building is covered with a skin developed by the companies Inalco and Wandegar from pieces of MDI placed perpendicularly on the façade to filter the light as the hours go by. In fact, the light has been treated as just another construction material, and other elements such as the aesthetically powerful upper roof also contribute to this. The piece of wickerwork that tops the pavilion is made by Manolo García, a master carpenter and Fallas artist. This element simulates the waves of the Mediterranean Sea in reference to the city as a historical point of union between cultures.
The design, technical development and construction had to be carried out in record time. With a construction period of two months, the use of digital tools and prefabrication played a leading role in a project that defines the future of digitised, industrialised and sustainable construction.
life-cycle design
industrial ecosystem
sustainability
design culture
social project
The project, due to its ephemeral nature and its location, is designed to be assembled and disassembled once its mission has been accomplished. All the parts of the base, together with those of the rest of the pavilion, can be dismantled, allowing the building to be moved to another location once the World Design Capital of Valencia has ended. (currently in progress).
With the use of digitalisation through BIM methodology, together with parametric design, it has been possible to resolve all the components of the building in an industrialised manner.
In this sense, the development of the BIM model has been carried out with the aim of generating a documentation capable of transmitting the necessary information to enable its prefabrication. In this way, savings have been made in the cost of materials, energy, resources and time in the manufacturing and construction phase. Thanks to these processes, the waste generated, the work carried out and the transport of materials have been reduced, saving large amounts of CO2 and energy.
Àgora València is also a space studied according to thermal comfort strategies. Its design takes into account climatic variables such as air circulation and solar radiation and has a direct influence on improving the feeling of comfort in relation to the rest of the square. The solar protection formed by the skin of vertical slats manages to reduce the amount of solar radiation coming from the east and west, while the wooden roof acts in a similar way with the light coming from the south, allowing in any case the natural ventilation of the building.
The addition of the solar protection and the ventilation system reduces the comfort temperature inside the pavilion by up to 10 degrees compared to any other point in the square, and all of this without energy input and therefore with zero CO2 emissions.
Following in the wake of the pavilions that other world design capitals such as Helsinki (2012) or Taipei (2016) built as the heart of their programme, where design can be seen and experienced, València takes the opportunity to bring design and its transversality closer to the citizens, companies and institutions from its own space.
With the inauguration of Àgora València, the city celebrates with its inhabitants and visitors its status as a global epicentre of design, and gains a space open to the public as a legacy of the transforming power of design. A place open to society as a whole, conceived to bring design and creative talent from all over the Valencian Community to the general public, through conferences, exhibitions, workshops...
Every evening from 29 June, an artistic and immersive lighting installation created by the creative studio Radiante will turn the pavilion into a great lighthouse as a symbol of the pride of the entire city of Valencia for being the World Design Capital.
The Ágora Valencia Pavilion is an example of how a public building can be accessible and promote the principles of design for all at the same time. This space is an opportunity for all people to experience different cultures.
This building has become a place where important issues can be discussed and debated in an open and respectful manner, with the aim of making everyone aware of how design influences our daily lives.
Throughout the year, activities and events focused on how design affects society have allowed people to learn and connect with others who share their interests and concerns, and encourage open and constructive dialogue on important issues.
Projects such as Next Gen: Seniors, a collaborative project that has focused on the ageing of cities with the aim of making them friendlier and safer for the elderly, as well as addressing aspects such as loneliness and social integration for this segment of the population.
Or Greetings from... Missió Climàtica València 2030, which aims to publicise, through illustration, the co-benefits for the people who live in the city of being a climate-neutral territory. The initiative is a new milestone in the search for a sustainable city, with green spaces, clean energy, complying with smart city parameters, promoting citizen participation, agri-food...
They are an example of actions that have been carried out throughout the year that have sought to generate debate about our future, that of our cities and our attitude to all the changes we are experiencing.
The event in Valencia was a clear demonstration of the ability of citizens to come together and organise a successful celebration.
The collaboration between different associations, organisations and entities in the city was fundamental to the success of the event, as each contributed their unique experience and expertise to create something truly special.
Local companies have been involved in the projects that have been carried out throughout the year, contributing their experience and capacity to promote the Valencian region.
Official institutions such as the Valencia City Council, the Generalitat Valenciana, the College of Architects, the College of Interior Designers, various associations and universities have all been involved in some way in the organisation of the event.
One of the most significant outcomes of the event was the creation of the Design Foundation, a non-profit organisation whose aim is to encourage and promote design in Valencia and throughout the community. The Foundation will work to promote creativity and innovation in design, as well as to support young talents and innovative projects in this field.
World Design Capital Valencia is the promoter of the event, in charge of the organisation, management, execution and dissemination of everything related to the celebration of the capital, both nationally and internationally.
Miguel Arraiz, architect, creative and project manager of Arqueha and València World Design Capital 2022, is responsible for the architectural project of Àgora València, together with Arqueha Arquitectura y Urbanismo, in charge of the technical development with the advice of Cosín Estudio.
The Arqueha studio, coordinator of Plan Cero for the climate transition of three neighbourhoods in the city of Valencia, was in charge of the technical development of the project, applying prefabrication and sustainability parameters. With the use of digitalisation through BIM methodology, together with parametric design, it has been possible to resolve all the components of the building in an industrialised manner, making each of the frames that support the slats unique, prefabricated and dismountable.
Thanks to the experience in the implementation of digital fabrication processes, and the coordination of parametric design and BIM software, Arqueha has been able to technically develop a unique building, being faithful to the initial design and being able to generate the necessary information so that the different construction agents, artist, professionals were able to execute the work.
Valencia City Council, a partner in the organisation, has made all the necessary arrangements to facilitate the event throughout the year.
With a construction period of two months, the use of digital tools and prefabrication played a leading role in a project that defines the future of digitised, industrialised and sustainable construction.
Firstly, parametric design tools have been used, which have provided the capacity to generate a skin whose slat distribution is totally controlled, allowing the choice of both the density of the pieces and their position in each of the frames. In this way, the design of each of the frames that make up the enclosure of the volume is unique, making the skin totally heterogeneous.
Together with the parametric design, the BIM methodology has been used, applied on this occasion to design the rest of the pavilion's components, such as the base and the structure. And also to generate all the necessary documentation to be able to manufacture, produce all the elements in the factory, and carry out their subsequent construction in the Town Hall Square.
In this sense, using the BIM methodology and coordinating it with the parametric design has allowed several façade proposals to be made in the design process, and once the final one was chosen, to generate the assembly plans instantly. It is in these plans where each slat appears as a single element to be installed in the frame, and with its parameterised properties such as numbering and location, it has been included in a list that has served as a guide for its subsequent manufacture by the operators. any collision between the different elements. In this sense, having a BIM model with a high level of detail has ensured that the entire project has been executed without any incidents of any kind.
The objective of the project was to design and build a building capable of being assembled, disassembled and moved to another location in the city. To achieve this, the design has focused on making it fully removable, piece by piece, an objective that has been met.
During these initial months of 2023, the building will be dismantled and taken to its new location, where it will be permanently located.
In addition, materials have been chosen that, due to their characteristics, have great durability against the climatic conditions of the city, being Valencia a city close to the sea. Among these materials, the slat skin material stands out, made up of more than 60% recycled minerals.
The approach adopted in the execution of the building has been to maximize factory work, which has generated multiple benefits in the construction of the pavilion.
In the first place, the safety of the operators has been increased and the complexity of the work has been reduced. The amount of waste generated and the energy used to manufacture items have been reduced.
Production times have been drastically reduced, affecting the cost of indirect resources of the work.
As they have been made in the factory, the quality control of the elements is so high that it allows their disassembly and subsequent assembly without carrying out artisanal work.
In this way, the environmental impact on energy, waste and human resources has reduced its cost and increased its benefits.
Currently, the construction of buildings for cultural events and temporary activities is usually something ephemeral, since they are used only once. However, this time a different approach has been taken and a building has been created that has become a solid platform that supports a useful life on a time scale of years. This building not only adapts to current needs, but is also reusable and uniquely adaptable and adaptable.
This building represents a change in the way the construction of spaces for cultural events is approached. Instead of being a temporary, disposable structure, something durable has been created that can be used whenever needed. In addition, it is also sustainable and designed to have a minimal impact on the environment.
The construction of a reusable and efficient building perspective is an important step towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future. It not only reduces the amount of materials and energy required for the construction of new buildings, but also saves costs and contributes to a more circular economy.
The building that we have designed should be a catalyst for social life, a focus that disseminates what design means in people's lives. That is why we seek to create a unique architecture and that was also unique due to its design and its message.
To this end, we have applied a sustainable approach to the design of the building, integrating practices and technologies that would reduce its environmental impact and increase its energy efficiency, on the one hand, and transmit culture and tradition on the other. This includes the selection of materials and technologies that respect the environment, the maximization of energy efficiency and the implementation of sustainable solutions in terms of water and waste management.
In addition, a sustainable approach must take into account aspects such as the health and well-being of visitors, for this reason the design has integrated solutions that allow natural ventilation, control of sunlight and accessibility for all people to the place, creating a true oasis in the square.
The sustainable approach in the design of a building is not only limited to the construction itself, but also includes a series of processes and knowledge that can be applied to any architectural project.
In the first place, processes have been created that have combined the BIM methodology and parametric design, allowing full control of work elements, their cataloging and documentation for their subsequent manufacture and installation.
Parametric design tools have been used, which have provided the capacity to generate a skin whose slat distribution is totally controlled, allowing the choice of both the density of the pieces and their position in each of the frames. In this way, the design of each of the frames that make up the enclosure of the volume is unique, making the skin totally heterogeneous.
Together with the parametric design, the BIM methodology has been used, applied on this occasion to design the rest of the pavilion's components, such as the base and the structure. And also to generate all the necessary documentation to be able to manufacture, produce all the elements in the factory, and carry out their subsequent construction in the Town Hall Square.
Studies of sunlight, wind and thermal comfort have been carried out to determine which solution was best adapted to the atmospheric conditions of the location, finally choosing the ideal density and dimensions of the pieces.
In addition to the digital and construction processes, the ephemeral nature of the building has been taken into account, designing its structure and elements with the necessary specifications to be removable.
This project is an example of how a building serves a civic purpose. Interacting with the city through events, open to its inhabitants, and with an enduring life cycle over time.
Thanks to the perspective with which the building has been designed, the city will now have a space dedicated to the dissemination of design and culture, both nationally and internationally.
The use of a reusable approach in architecture opens the door to the creation of flexible projects that adapt to the circumstances that citizens need, and that require few resources, both financial and temporary, for their subsequent use, amply rewarded over time of the useful life of the building.
A project of these characteristics could accommodate not only cultural events, but also social, governmental, or even health events, becoming a reference place as the situation requires.
Fostering industrialized projects like this one provides greater facilities in matters of maintenance, accessibility and repair capacity, favoring its useful life and safety.
