Ibiza Cultural Centre Ses Nou Rodades

The basic ideas behind the building in terms of landscaping and integration into the site are to propose an architectural design that blends into the racecourse plot, forming a new independent unit that is nevertheless connected to the existing facilities. The new building, called Ses Nou Rodades, with its distinctive patios and porches, is constructed using traditional materials such as wood and stone, as well as modern materials such as glass, steel and aluminium. The aim is to create a sustainable, flexible, emotive and durable building. The roof, designed as part of the landscape and in continuity with the natural ground level, is partly landscaped.

Located on the west corner of the plot, next to the current racecourse building, a large garden of native species is proposed, where a sequence of porches and courtyards will be developed, from which the entrances to the rooms and interior spaces will be accessed from the outside. This space will remain hidden from the outside and will be revealed once the entrance porch is crossed, creating an element of surprise. In this way, the intervention is conceived as a large, visually and physically connected, multi-purpose space that links to the existing car park to create its main access and, internally, connects to the racecourse terraces via a large staircase.

To make the building more dynamic, different types of uses are combined, allowing for flexible use as each of the rooms will have independent access. In other words, the uses are autonomous and complementary at the same time.

The concept of a building integrated into a large garden of native species where a sequence of porches and courtyards is developed from which the accesses to the rooms and interior uses are located. A building that is formalised more from the outside in.

The criteria of comfort and bioclimatic behaviour guide its interior materialisation. Hygrothermal, lighting and visual comfort, air quality, functional and acoustic comfort and on the other hand bioclimatic strategies with passive measures of excellent thermal insulation of the envelope, natural light, solar gain in winter, solar protection in summer, cooling with natural ventilation, courtyards with vegetation, thermal inertia and vegetation cover.  And bioclimatic strategies with active measures through solar panels for domestic hot water production, photovoltaic panels for the electrical installation, air conditioning with aerothermal system, ventilation with double flow recuperators and intelligent building management control system.

It should be noted that the building has been designed to obtain official Green certification (GBCE Green Building Council Spain), meaning that it has been conceived based on environmental, social and economic strategies so that the building reduces energy and water consumption, makes efficient use of materials and improves biodiversity, resulting in a healthy and comfortable building that adapts to all people, is flexible in its use and facilitates maintenance.

The active bioclimatic solutions focus on using renewable energy systems, harnessing solar energy from solar panels to produce hot water and air conditioning, combined with an aerothermal system and solar energy from photovoltaic panels for the electrical installation.

For the management and control of the building’s various installations, a centralised intelligent control system for building management (BMS) will be provided in order to optimise the building’s energy consumption and maximise its rational use.

The design of the spaces responds to the desire to recreate and reuse traditional solutions found in the island’s churches, as public buildings of greater significance and cultural importance in recent Ibizan history. The project takes its essence from the ensemble formed by meeting porches, benches, trees and cobbled pavements, interpreting it and highlighting its value. To this are added concepts of transparency, fluidity and abstraction more typical of our times. The result is a combination of both worlds.

The building has a total constructed area of 2,200 m2, of which 659 m2 are exterior porches, while the exterior spaces to be developed cover 6,372 m2, in the form of terraces, gardens and a parking area.

It should be noted that the building design achieves high-quality hygrothermal comfort through a combination of different passive bioclimatic measures:

High thermal insulation value of the building envelope through the facade and roof enclosures. Basically, by applying a triple glazing system with double chambers in transparent facades and with an ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System).

Use of solar energy in winter through large glass surfaces on the south façade with natural stone flooring with high thermal inertia and the ability to retain and accumulate the heat provided.

Protection from solar radiation in summer through the protection provided by the design of the building’s eaves and hanging vegetation in some areas, and the screening provided by the trees and shrubs planted on the west-facing slope.

Design of courtyards with natural vegetation, which will provide high hygrothermal quality to the outdoor environment.