COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS

Material nature
x Cayetana Mercé

The Medical Association of San Martin takes the expressive possibilities of concrete to fix the character and the representative image of this institution.
Try that in a building is expressed through its structure and the materials that make up almost a philosophical question.
The naked truth is shown, without resort to coatings or decorations that try to define their identity. When this happens, the building becomes its own character and unique and that in relation to their immediate environment gives a remarkable physical presence that comes from the beginning of the project from generating their own, the skeleton, which can then be part of your final image.
When designing a structure is sought greater strength with less material in the best shape for such use, first choosing the most appropriate for the voltage that must withstand. The economy is a factor that is necessary to consider the efficiency with: achieve the most results with minimum resources, surely result in a building also forms “economic” and simple spaces that have the advantage of being able to fulfill specific functions are not too. If it is also designed leveraging the strengths of the chosen material, it acts within its expressive nature showing.
One is the concrete, for which-to recall the structural and aesthetic possibilities that brings- enough to cite historical examples such as the Unité de Habitation in Marseille Le Corbusier or forms achieved by Pier Luigi Nervi. This aspect is confirmed by the words of Mies Van der Rohe: “Whenever technology reaches its real fulfillment, architecture transcends”.
Given the large number of variants in the market for fur in front, from plaster plastic, until coated plates of all kinds, keep free of the concrete coating is almost a feat similar to those masters of this century. Within this context, Buenos Aires appears in unusual building, contest won by the architects Paul and Jorge Peralta Urquiza Rozenwasser. It is the Medical College of San Martin Party, a building whose image is representative of a formality than traditionally expected of an institution of this kind, but get a similar representation for the strong character, original and distinctive met their authors through the concrete material to solve both the bodies that make up the building to its supporting structure.
From the front, the play of light and shadows produced by the components of the project, gives the smooth rough concrete materiality of contrasts that enhance the identity of each party. The holes of the front show the elements, those within the internal composition are circulations or classrooms for different uses. A glass skin “rests” on concrete and the enclosure for the office floors.
The party takes a clear and forceful: two parallel bodies that occupy the entire lot and are joined by bridges made with wire mesh. These bridges allow transparency between each level and give the small space between a light side, and allows the free flow of light.
Within each concrete prism between spaces play continues. The first floor of the street extends. The open space is interrupted by a circular room that does not reach the ceiling and structured access, where again playing with the materials: veneer for the big door and the concrete to complete this form. On the formwork plate used, appearance again shows the authors' intention to exploit the artistic possibilities of the material.
There is another circular space inside the second prism: a tray that hangs over the audience tensor is a meeting room. The tension between the two forms (circle inside the box) gives a greater interest to the small space.
The remaining plants are flexible and simple spaces. From offices to a SUM, are connected by an elevator-like lift and a sculptural spiral staircase.
Colors, well as the concrete itself, are a fundamental part of the work. Bright, coated surfaces that divide rooms and extend to the equipment, unresolved items with the same ease and the same intensity with which they are treated the other parts of the building. A zoom on these generalizations leads us to value the work put into the resolution almost handcrafted details: the decision to turn 45 degrees columns and its relationship with the building, the encounter between different materials (metal and concrete) and textures to get from this combination.
The work shows how a building can be the answer to a user's specific need, while representative of an institution using a language rich in expressions that gives a special architectural value to the result.

The program

Basically it is an administrative building, support activities with legal and postgraduate courses. It was intended for maximum flexibility and opportunities to alter these layouts. Comprising an area of ​​administrative offices, technical and legal advice, Special commissions, Bodies, administrative computer center y. An auditorium for 130 people, classes, multipurpose hall, general file and cafe / restaurant.

Volumetric composition

The way “L” ground, determined the arrangement of two volumes, connected and articulated by metal bridges, defining the circulation and connections. These circulations are semi integrated outdoor spaces and while the rooms where various activities are hosted (they have their own air conditioning system on each floor).
Given the strong presence of reinforced concrete as a counterpoint to interact more sophisticated elements such as carpentry Front (aluminum and glass panes with sunscreen), or hydraulic lift (connecting the four levels).

Schematic

PB: daytime and evening activities such as postgraduate courses are developed in three classrooms, access to the auditorium, a circular room on the front. The latter is literally dropped into the plant, since the walls (resolved through reinforced concrete formwork molds for corrugated) do not touch the slab that covers. A gate of the same corrugated. The vertical circulation core to the left. All this space treated as a dry place, a sort of free floor.
At the first level: on the main building, develop administrative activities typical of offices, while in the second building is located, Auditorium.
At the second level: they set the direction and chairmanship, executive areas in front, and meeting room (circular) literally hang over the auditorium, in the other volume.
At the third level: sits the multipurpose room, a large column-free space materialized in concrete walls that has a number of holes, both walls and ceilings and provides visual relationships with the roof as an expansion planned. The lounge is resolved in exposed concrete, beams with the solution of inverted, allowing a flat slab inside. In the other volume is the bar, and it will operate a deposit of documents or general file.
At the fourth level: terrace and expansion of the multipurpose room, where there are the domes of buckets from the room or skylights skylights.