I3S - Institute of Health Research and Investigation
Nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award 2017.
The elongated and low volume limits the garden, following an integrated urban logic, discreet in height but very present when it comes to the urban front of the lot. The compact shape of the building, determined by the laboratories areas that are placed on top of the floor of the common services and public areas, smaller in size and indented, makes itself visible above the ground without touching it. The contact with the ground is made by the common services and public areas of the ground floor.
The two laboratories floors are the ones that determine the shape and image of the building. This decision to reference the design and formal concept building on its minimum unit, giving this way more significance to its function, the laboratory, it's the central idea for the project. Therefore, this solution results in a very compact shape, despite having only three floors above the ground quota.
This compact and elongated is pierced by patios that bring light to each one of the labs, on its wider side.
