Build Architecture Awards

Build Architecture Awards 2015 108 Xabier Barrutieta architects is an Architecture, Urbanism and Design firm specialising in innovative solutions and integrated projects. The firm provides us with a unique insight into the stunning designs they produce. Our work philosophy rests on the premise that best design comes from a completely inte- grated approach from the project conception to completion, and we make ourselves stand out offering tailored solutions that are not common to traditional architecture firms. Xabier Barrutieta architects focuses on three different fields that mainly correspond to three scales of action. Each of these scales has quite different positions according to clients and services we offer. On the bigger scale Urban Design and Masterplanning projects usually have to find a dialogue with existing urban reality and need to apply strategic thinking methodologies and complex management tools. We act as an urban think-tank for clients that are usually public and we offer them a research method- ology with an out-of-the-box approach, pro- posing proactive ideas on the situations that we identify to have an outstanding potential. On the building scale we mainly focus on NZEB buildings and green architecture solutions. In the last years we worked with clients of companies that needed new and fresh working environments for their innova- tive companies. We work hand in hand from the beginning to choose the right plot, study their brand culture and DNA with the aim of designing a tailored project that sums a new asset for the business strategy and brand culture of the companies. Finally, the smallest scale corresponds to the interiors of any kind, workplace consultancy, industrial design and design of temporary spaces. We love working with artists and sculptors to give us new insights and help create spaces with a soul. At this scale we have more freedom to test new materials, technologies and be open to peripheral disci- plines that enrich our practice. Recognised Leader in Urban Design & Masterplanning - Spain Xabier Barrutieta Name: Xabier Barrutieta architects Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.xabierbarrutieta.com Address: Carlos I avenue, 28 – 20011 San Sebastian (Spain) Telephone: +34 658 739 901 But at complex projects the limits between scales usually blur, which does not mean it is bad news. One interesting aspect of our professional research comes at the scale between the building and the neighbour- hood, which we name as ‘Urban Cells’. This approach embraces the building and its close urban surrounding, which together open interesting paths of the design and implementation of integrated sustainable design solutions that take into account the effective mix of uses, the centralized energy management, creating dense and healthy ur- ban developments, the use of road space and parking, optimization of centralized facilities, etc. As you can imagine, this is an especially interesting field for interdisciplinary projects that we can lead and drive applying LEAN management for instance. One particular example of this was Orona Ideo, a milestone Project in our evolution where we implemented many of the ideas on Urban Cell design and we applied innovative management tools borrowed from the indus- trial processes. Orona Ideo is a Campus size development of several buildings that integrate business, re- search and university for a lift manufacturing company near San Sebastian. We managed an integrated process that started from the Master planning and the urban and land- scape design of the campus, and went down to the design of each building and the con- ception of the inner spaces. The architectural design is particularly sensitive to bioclimatic issues and this approach has shaped most of the architectural solutions. This approach has led to build a Net Zero Energy Campus, where four buildings are connected to a com- mon District Heating-Cooling system powered on 100% renewable energy sources: geother- mal, thermal solar and biomass. This was also the first project in Spain that has been