Natucer has been awarded with one of the last edition Coverings Show awards for the manufacturing of material to cover Ana García Sala's project focused on her Innovation Centre for Childhood located in Paterna Technological Park.
Coverings show, recently held in Atlanta, Georgia, grants the ""Coverings Installation and Design Awards"" annually and reward such remarkable works for both their design and their use and ceramic or stone pieces installation in any part of the world. Two works shown with ceramic wall tiles-Tile of Spain- have been awarded for their excellence so much in design and execution. These are the Elementary Education Centre and the Innovation Centre for Childhood (Paterna, Valencia) by Ana María Sala architect and Granada Teacher-Training School by Ramón Fernández-Alonso Borrajo architect.
Ana Maria Sala's work intends to be related to children not introducing architecture as a mere building, but as an emotional part in their education. The buildings are featured by two cylinder blocks covered by colourful ceramic wall tiles. Colour and materials are the main part in the project, they stimulate the spectators and become visible. Four colour tones are shown in the project which offer a visual movement effect to the whole building.
The initiative arises from the density of firms that have been located in the Park in recent years. Taking into account the average age of workers, with an important presence of women, needs and benefits of covering this service are evident, as the reduction of absences to work, the extension of breast-feeding and greater collaboration Parents-School.
After this analysis, it is intended to cover two needs:
- The existing demand for a kindergarten school
- Increase the outreach activities of Research and development and Innovation, giving the innovation the nature of collective culture beginning in childhood.
From the functional point of view, the organization of the early childhood centre arises from the educational development of children, therefore, the building is configured and distributes responding to the specific needs of children at different ages.
ARCHITECTURE AND EDUCATION
From the functional point of view, the educational centre arises from the educational development of children, therefore, the building is divided according to the specific needs of children at different ages. The building is looking for a relationship with the children, the integration of architecture as an emotional component to their education. The spaces to stimulate the creativity and curiosity. The colour and the material are key features in the project, they stimulate and are clearly seen. The rounded shapes are attractive, waiting to be explored, they let you get close to them with care, offering safety to children. From the ecological point of view, looking for the lesser impact on the environment, the use of ceramics as material for the facade, has proved to be compatible with this intention, due to the characteristics of the material and the proximity of their production.
The complex consists of five cylinder blocks and a peacefully composed facade, nuanced by the ceramic covering.
GRADATION OF PANTONE RANGE
Each of the blocks has different shades of colour, providing a visual movement to the whole complex depending on the ambient light.
CERAMIC CURVES
The lining of the facade is composed of porcelain straight parts in 13.5 x 55 cm and curved parts of width of 13.5 cm and a radius of curvature of 85 cm.
The tiles are placed in a guide of aluminum, through slots in the ceramic pieces; guides are placed in an aluminum sandwich panel and mineral wool, with the support of Metal struts and belts.
The ceramic is obtained by extrusion and single firing at 1195 º C, with firing cycles very studied, providing the appropriate degree of curvature. The glazes are used to high temperatures and have been coloured with pigments dispersible to achieve the desired tone.
Sources: dissenycv.es and vacarquitectura.es
