Language Centre of Valencian University
The Centre d'Idiomes lies on the southern edge of the campus of the University of Valencia at its junction with the consolidated city and just at the point where they are.
Its volume consists of two bodies formed with rectangular prisms separated by a corridor of communication. Acts of similar size and arranged in parallel, are voluntarily contrasted with each other, to be phased out in plan and elevation and covered with opposite materials: wood and steel.
The west block houses the classrooms and spaces of relationship called “Gardened Class”. To protect from the harsh sunlight of the afternoon, this lens is wrapped in an insulating and non-putrefiable frame of slats made of cedar wood Canadian Red, with orthogonal lines organized with practicable lamas in classrooms and lattice open spaces to modulate light diverse and adjusted to its functionality way.
By contrast, eastern block houses service spaces and vertical communications. This is a tight block whose skin has been implemented through a veil of galvanized steel microperforated, forced at maximum curvature to simulate a textile flaming wind. This solution willfully violates the rationality of the sheet metal, getting the input of a light filtered with a surprising texture and shine full of shades of chiaroscuro, throughout the day.
The innovative academic proposal is considered modern language school as a place to exchange experiences, rather than learning a language. Thus, the building is lightened by separating the classrooms that are constructed as hubs within the overall block, leaving friendly spaces for the meeting to be gardened on its facade, creating a green curtain where the direction of the slats is rotated so visually it appears from the outside as a “Tetris" playing between classrooms and gardens.
Salvador Lara Ortega Architect.
