MareNostrum
Residential Building for Romero & Pazmiño Ingeniería Inmobilaria
The meaning of the project in classical Latin, is “Our Sea”. Inspired by the movement of the oars of the fleets of the Roman empire is reinterpreted in the façade of the building. Reinforcing this concept, the design team decided to implement soft waves on the façade generating at the same time an experience of movement for the user. Throughout the 8 story residential building, the movement of the façade generates large balconies that allow the interior space to extend to the exterior. Moreover the form has passive sustainability strategies, such as natural light and ventilation.
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MareNostrum by Aaron Leppanen
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Residential Building by Aaron Leppanen
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Aaron Leppanen MareNostrum
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Aaron Leppanen Residential Building
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MareNostrum Residential Building Press Releases
For MareNostrum, we offer press releases in multiple languages, including: English.
MareNostrum Residential Building Media Articles
Access our collection of MareNostrum articles, ready for use and offered in languages: Korean, Indonesian, Japanese, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, Turkish, Arabic (Standard), Spanish, Italian, German, French, Portuguese, English and Hindi.
Unique Properties
Throughout the 8 story residential building, the movement of the facade generates large balconies, which extends the interior space to the exterior. The form has passive sustainability strategies, such as ventilation and natural light. The volume of the building allows different types of apartments, suites, 2 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms and lofts. In addition, social spaces are created inside the building, such as a lounge and green areas on the terrace, to take advantage of the urban context.
Tags
Sea , Waves , Urban , Facade , Residential
Production Technology
The facade and the lobby have the same language in their design. However the facade was constructed with conventional masonry blocks and mortar. The lobby in contrast was built with a combination of digital fabrication and artisan work. The unique lobby forms were made with a cnc cut mdf structure and colorado wood panels cut by hand. The use of complementary digital and artisan construction techniques was key to attain such unconventional forms in a setting like Ecuador.
Design Challenge
The historical connection that the site of the project had with the sea inspired the form. The local construction technology however gave limitations on how this form would be attained. After evaluating different materials , the conventional masonry blocks and cement materials were used in a sculpted work with the local artisans to build the wave inspired facade. The combination of these curved walls and wooden accents below the cantilevered floor plate extensions created the desired volume.
Project Duration
The project started in 2016 and was completed in 2019 in Quito, Ecuador.
Operation Flow
The characteristic cutout corners, spanning over two levels, give the building a softer attitude. They also create spaces and opportunities for neighbors to interact with each other, between the balconies of differing depth. The cutout corners also provide shade protecting from the hot Andean sun.
Research
Our office research primarily focuses on form finding through organic efficiencies. Specifically varied repetition is of interest, looking for models of difference through a similar design process. The objective behind this research is to identify potential insights and techniques that can be implemented in our iterative design process. Methods include digital sketching in rhino and grasshopper and physical printed models. In the iterative process, experimentation is the most important aspect in the search for potential architectural solutions. These experiments are tested against the various project parameters, which could include; zoning, context, client preferences, marketing strategies, constructability and other conceptual criteria. The result of this process is constructible yet experimental design that has movement, emotion, repetition and a physical presence in our community.
Inspiration
The site of the project was named Mare Nostrum after an existing restaurant, whose latin meaning is our sea. The ancient Romans baptized what is now the Mediterranean Sea with this name. Inspired in this context, the movement that the oars of the fleets of the Roman Empire used centuries ago to protect their territories is reinterpreted on its facade. Reinforcing this concept an experience of movement is created for the users inside and outside the spaces.
Image Credits
BICUBIK
Project Overview
MareNostrum Residential Building has been a Silver winner in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design award category in the year 2019 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Silver Recognition
Aaron Leppanen was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2020, a testament to excellence of their work MareNostrum Residential Building.
Aaron Leppanen Press Releases
Our press releases on Aaron Leppanen and their work are made freely available for press members looking to add depth to their content. For immediate journalistic use: 2 press releases are available right now.
MareNostrum: A Wave-Inspired Residential Building in Quito, Ecuador
Designed by Aaron Leppanen, the MareNostrum project is a stunning 8-story residential building completed in 2019, drawing inspiration from the movement of the Roman fleets in the Mediterranean Sea.
Aaron Leppanen Newsroom
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