© axel klein o´farrell
This portfolio shows my work as an architect, from my initial independent practice, through my internship and following collaboration as a project leader with equipo4d, to my current job as associate architect with buildworks, covering several award winning competitions and all the work designed and built during my practice in this last decade. The works I have selected here try to show my concern to achieve a constructive process that equally envolves the manufacturer’s implication in the design process, the graphical prowess and perseverance with constructive models and the patience and good faith of our clients. It basically includes two parts: 1. highlighted and awarded competitions 2. built work RÊsumÊ at the end.
Competitions: An urban market for a suburb in Madrid, and a conference centre in a coastal town in Canary Islands.
From left to right, a congress centre and the rehabilitation af a convent for the construction of an hospice, both in small towns near Badajoz, and the first prize of a national competition “el rincon de Leonor” for the creation of new urban spaces and the rehabilitation of Sta. María La Mayor Church in Soria, Spain.
International competition: First prize Europan 6 in Quinta do Almaraz, Portugal.
National competition: First prize. 23 Unit Housing in AvilĂŠs, Spain. International competition: Second prize. Biological sciences institute of KĂśln University, Germany.
National competition: Second prize. Museum in Teruel, Spain.
National competition: New headquarters for the official association of architects of madrid (c.o.a.m.), spain.
SURFACE: 800 sqm.
BUDGET: 0,6 M€.
LOCATION: SORIA, SPAIN
One of the first steps to give shape to the competition winning project “el rincon de leonor” was to leave out the development of part of the environment previously designed and to incorporate the requirements of the heritage commission, with the obligation to restore the facade of the church sta. Maria la Mayor. Therefore the proposal of slats of wood had to be redesigned, the ceramic bricks and it’s rigging had to be developed to be used as flooring throughout the project and the urban equipment had to be made of solid sandstone blocks. Each one of these elements required a separate process, beginning with the design sketches followed by a thorough development carried out by different companies, leading, in the end to an extremely balanced proposal.
During the four months that the whole process lasted, various on site tests were performed to check the suitability of the different materials. The stairs to the main public space had to be remade till it fulfilled all the designing requirements.
Challenges: The masonry, the wood slats and the lighting had to work well together. The dimension of the slats of wood and it’s separation to test the transparent-opaque relation while checking directly with the lumber yard the wood sections and anchors needed to meet the requirements. The use, from the beginning, of laminated chestnut wood due to it’s resistance to the weather.
The whole development of the brick could be accomplished working closely with HDR and their factory in Toledo combining design sketches with rigging trials directly on site. The suitability of this material to the water drainage requirement of the pavement was crucial.
SURFACE: 750 sqm. BUDGET: 2Mâ‚Ź LOCATION: SEGOVIA,SPAIN
Challenges: Drilling a large basement and the restructuring of a Heritage Commision protected building and surrounding gardens in one of the best plots in Segovia. We seized this oportunity working with cumbersome scaffoldings and strong structures that allowed us to give back an expressive response ordering the immediate surroundings. Client’s concern on greenhouse emissions led us to include geothermal heating and cooling systems as the main source of household energy. It consisted on a total 600 meter deep drilling to be able to use the energy provided by the earth. The vast process of design, the processing of license, and construction works were not an obstacle to be faithful to the initial designs.
Technical details and models were very helpful for the successful completion of the various elements of the project.
With 750 sqm and a 2 million â‚Ź budget, the concern of combining the existing structures with new ones, has given a response to the different conditions applied to this site.
SURFACE:
1700
sqm.
BUDGET:
3,8
Mâ‚Ź.
LOCATION:
MADRID,
SPAIN
This residence was designed for a famous football player and his family in a well known housing development in Pozuelo, Madrid. A house for an unsophisticated family. Challenges: How to show a 600 sqm house from 1700 sqm of construction, how to move backwards the position of the building placing the landscape to the south to enjoy the sun. To propose the opposite of what was found in the surroundings was the main thrust of the project.
Several extruded boxes on a brick base under a brass cover. Two materials for the building of an atemporal construction. The big challenge was to forget about the complex environment following a low profile attitude.
A 3.8 million â‚Ź budget allowed an investment in renewable energies facilities. 11 drillings making a total of 1100 meters deep was the interchanging scheme for the geotermal heating and cooling system. This solution combined with a sustainable water system led this construction to score a B in the spanish energy rating certificate.
Brass, wood and brick. Three materials for the full composition. The design process with the cabinetmaker and the italian brass factory was complex but a rewarding experience.
Challenges: An excessive and thorough designing process allowed us to study in advance all the possibilities that these different materials could provide. Designing different bricks and it’s molds allowed us to construct a 30x12.5x3.5cms module that we used to structure all the project. We had to define a manufacturing timetable taking into account temporary closures of the factory and production downtime.
SURFACE: 450 sqm. BUDGET: 1M€ LOCATION: MADRID,SPAIN
Challenges: This client disliked open developments but wanted to enjoy every inch of his plot. At he same time he didn’t wanted to spend too much money. We displayed this 450 sqm house creating a strong boundary in the north facade with a concrete wall and a blind facade in the upper floor, opening the whole ground floor to the south blurring the boundaries of the plot in this direction. The proposal included in the design three of the most important holm oak trees of the plot. The structure had to deal with complex requisites as can be clearly seen in the concrete and steel trusses. Biomass heating systems were used as the sustainable energy system, reserving space in the basement for the storage of wood pellets. In this case, the client’s trust allowed a clear and expressive response to these issues.
SURFACE: 3000 sqm. BUDGET: 3M€ LOCATION: SEVILLE,SPAIN
A burnt property, ( a fire caused by former employees of the firm) was the starting point. The target was a complete refurbishment and the implementation af a motor warehouse for Triumpf and Suzuki motorcycles. In less than 6 months designs and works were completed. 3 million € for 3000 sqm. Once all the covering and equipment were demolished and after having consolidated the foundations, a steel structure was chosen due to it’s quick assembly.
A 6 million € budget for the complete refurbishment of two buildings (6000 sqm) from 1920s in one of Madrid best streets, and the drilling for the construction of a Wöhr parking system beneath. The adventurous design of the steel structure was required for the attachment of the secondary building.
4 months for the completion and a 6 million € budget was the target for the execution of The Spanish Sailing Base (4500 sqm) for the 32nd America’s cup in Valencia. Different spaces for the accomodation of the travel lifts, boats, masts, sail factory, engeneering offices and store.
An incubator for technology based companies (3210 sqm) in Almada, Portugal and an office building (3000 sqm) in Madrid, Spain.
A place for an artist and a flat for an architect. Both placed in Madrid. A couple of complex refurbishment due to it’s cheap original construction.
EDUCATION. Jul-Nov11 Mar11 Jun11 Jun10 Jan03
Overall Score 7.5 International English Language Testing System (British Council). Positive Skills Assessment. Architecture Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA). ACT-6.Renewable energy in Construction. (Technics Superior Area C.O.A.M. ) ACT-8. Energy efficiency assessment. (Technics Superior Area C.O.A.M.) Registered C.O.A.M. , C.O.A.C.Y.L.E and C.O.A.V.N.
Jun01-Jan03
Polytechnics University Madrid (UPM) Masters Degree in Architecture (ETSAM)
Sep93-Jun01
Bachelor Degree in Architecture (ETSAM)
82-93 80-82
Saint Patrick’s School. Madrid Colegio Cardenal Newman. Buenos Aires, Argentina
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE.
Jan07-Today
Associate Architect at Buildworks
Highlighted Competitions. First Prize Competition for Old Town Urban Spaces “El rincon de Leonor”, Soria. Spain Sanchinarro Public Market, Madrid.Spain Conversion of the Old San Juan’s Convent for an Hospice in Olivenza, Extremadura.Spain. Civic and Cultural Centre in Villanueva de la Serena, Extremadura.Spain. Convention Centre and Music Hall in Morro Jable, Canary Islands. Spain
Built/in process.
3.000sqm. 3M€ 800sqm. 0,6M€ 1.700sqm.3,8M€. (*GW) 750sqm. 2M€. (*GW) 450sqm. 1M€. (*B) 350sqm.
I+D Suzuki/Triumph Motor Warehouse Refurbishment, Seville, Spain. New Old Town Urban Spaces and Refurbishment of Sta. María La Mayor Church, Soria. Spain Gonzalez-Redondo Residence in La Finca Residential Area, Madrid. Spain De Riva-Harvey Residence in Parral environment, Segovia. Spain Arias-Miguez Residence in El Bosque Residential Area, Madrid. Spain Carabel Residence in María Pita Square, Coruña. Spain
Sep03-Jan07
Project Leader at Equipo4d y asociados (Samuel Torres de Carvalho. Pedro Palmero Cabezas)
Highlighted Competitions.
First Prize Second Prize First Prize First Prize First Prize Second Prize Second Prize First Prize Portugal First Prize Honorable Mention Third Prize Honorable Mention
National Competition for a Sports Centre in Mostoles, Madrid. Spain National Competition for the Extension of Teruel Provincial Museum,. Spain European Competition. Centre for New Companies in Almada, Lisbon. Portugal 46 Unit Housing in San Francisco de Paula, Canary Islands. Spain Senior Civic Centre Prados de Torrejón Refurbishment, Pozuelo, Madrid. Spain Extension for the Molecular and Celular Biology Insitute, Elche. Spain Centre for New Companies, Cadiz Industrial Sector. Spain European Competition Europan 6. Strategic Plan for Quinta do Almaraz, Lisbon.
4.100sqm Spain 3.600sqm. Madrid. 2.600sqm. Spain 5.448sqm 750sqm Madrid.
Built
23 Unit Housing in El Nodo, Avilés. Spain International Competition Biological Institute. Köln. Germany International Competition. New Town Hall, Feldkirchen, Germany International Competition. New Plenary Hall, Maximilaneum, Münich, Germany
Sports Base for Desafio Español 2007 Team for the 32nd America’s Cup,Valencia. Refurbishment and site management of 18 apartments in Principe de Vergara 15, habilitation of Tapete Escobar Palace and two adjacent buildings, Alcántara,Cáceres. Refurbishment of Heritage Building in Principe de Vergara 15, Madrid.Spain Special Plan and construction of Wöhr Parking System in Principe de Vergara 15, Projects
1.200sqm. Refurbishment of Senior Center. Pozuelo, Madrid. Spain 4.100sqm. 18 Unit Housing in IM54 lot, El Salt, Alicante. Spain 200sqm. Refurbishment for Dental Surgery in General Lacy st, Madrid. Spain Partial Plan Los Caparroses, Almería. Spain 30 Unit Housing in Palm Valley, Partaloa, Almería. Spain Projects. Refurbishment of Concepcion Arenal Reformatory, Madrid. Spain 28 Unit Housing in Torrevieja, Alicante. Spain 450sqm. (*S) Achaerandio single family home in Vitoria, Spain. Residential Housing in Luis Mitjans 15, Madrid. Spain. 1.100sqm (*S) Country House, and Stable in a country state near San Martin y Mudrián Town, Segovia. Spain Sports Fields for Renasco and Madroño Reformatory in Madrid, Spain. 250sqm Naharro Showroom in 62 Granada st., Madrid. Spain 203 Unit Housing in Parque Das Naçoes. Portugal 350sqm Louzau Apartment in María Pita Square, Coruña. Spain Special Plan UA3 in Bedar, Almería. Spain 250sqm (*S) Residence in San Juan Reservoir, Madrid. Spain Partial Plan SUS-R6 in Torres de la Alameda, Madrid. Spain 550sqm (*S) Adelfas Condominium, Madrid. Spain Extension of Las Lagunillas Reformatory, Jaen. Spain 23 Unit Housing in El Nodo, Avilés., Asturias. Spain (*GW) Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems.+ Sustainable Water Systems Oeiras Office Buildings, Lisbon. Portugal (*B) Biomass Heating Systems (*S) Solar Power Systems
2003
Project Architect at GVT architects
Refurbishment of Office Building in Marques de Monteagudo, Madrid. Spain
2001
Colaborator at Equipo4d y asociados (Samuel Torres de Carvalho.Pedro Palmero Cabezas)
Projects Special Plan and Partial Plan in SAU-PSR5 lot in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. Spain 28 Unit Housing in Arucas, Gran Canaria. Canary Islands. Spain 833 Single Housing in SAU-PSR5, La Oliva, Fuerteventura. Canary Islands. Spain Office Building and Hotel in Julian Camarillo, Madrid Rehabilitation of Office Building in Alcala 494, Madrid. Spain Housing in 4.46.01 and 4.47.01 Parque Das Naçoes, Lisbon. Portugal Rehabilitation of Office Building in Sanchez Pacheco, Madrid. Spain 103 Unit Housing in 38.1 lot, Las Palmas de Gran Canria. Canary Islands. Spain
1997
Colaborator at ACTIVA architects
Rehabilitation of Residential Building in Puerto Rubio sq. Madrid. Spain Housing in Navas del Rey, Madrid. Spain
2004-2007 95sqm 110sqm 35sqm
Independent practice. Studio for an artist. in Buenavista, 20. Madrid. Spain Refurbishment of Garza-Fonseca Residence. Madrid,Spain Refurbishment of Squadra Residence. Madrid. Spain
CITATIONS. 2010 www.europaconcorsi.com Europaconcorsi. “El rincon de Leonor” en Soria. 2007 ISBN: 2-7258-0007-2 Europ’A Special Edition 2007 Magazine. ISBN: 84-9785-348-2 Desafío Español 2007. 32nd America’s Cup Challenger. 2006 ISSN:0004-2706 C.O.A.M. Architecture 342 2004 ISBN:972-26-2133-5 Influx. Recent Portuguese Architecture 2003 ISBN:2-914296-06-1 Europan 6. European Results.
SOFTWARE PROFICIEN CIES.
AutoCAD 2010, ArchiCAD Sketchup PRO, V-RAY Rendering, Adobe After Effects . Adobe Photoshop CS5, Adobe In Design. MS Office, MS Projects, Presto,.
axel klein o’farrell. architect. axelklein.arq@gmail.com 0034661289147
© axel klein o´farrell