Saturday 29 March 2014

maquinnext green shopping

image by MVRDV




Description

Maquinnext represents an intense encounter between nature and the city. It is the response to an ambitious brief which calls for the transformation of a neighbourhood into a new focal point in Barcelona with a mixed used development, including both the extension of a major shopping centre and residential use. 

image by MVRDV


A key issue in the design is phasing, since due to the weak housing market, the housing development is not expected to begin construction for another 4-5 years. The proposal makes a conscious decision to create an efficient, sustainable open air shopping center which will strengthen the existing facility's connection with its surroundings. The roof of the shopping center becomes an undulated landscape, an accessible green roof providing a much needed oasis in the hard surfaced city.

image by MVRDV


Points are pulled upwards strategically to emphasize the entrances while others are pulled downwards to grant a soft entrance to the sublime, lifted forest which characterises the new development. The forest can be experienced visually from the entire neighborhood and physically from the new retail streets. 

image by MVRDV


The intense nature stimulates the shopping experience and pumps life into the district. It paradoxically merges into the urban fabric, as well as stands out. When the time comes for the residential development, slender high rise towers will emerge from the forest itself enriching the sky line of Barcelona.

image by MVRDV


Facts

Location : Barcelona, Spain

Year : 2012

Client : Unibail Rodamco, Paris, France

Program : 45.000 m2 shopping center with 57.000 m2 added residential complex and additional public spaces

Budget : Undisclosed


Credits

Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, Nathalie de Vries with Marta Pozo, Tom Leahy, Davide Sacconi

image by MVRDV