San Lucas Island National Park, where once the “lonely men” came against their will; now frequented by hundreds for its natural beauty and architectural heritage. A feared legend for those deprived of liberty, now a symbol of sustainability. A historical contrast …
The defined contrast informs the design from its initial stage; Full/empty. Heavy/light. Opened/closed. Isolated/ free. Solid/ ethereal … The iconic dungeons that receive the visitor from their arrival on the island, define a strong grid that facilitates the proportions and location of the Visitor Center. The programs of greater privacy are encapsulated within a semi-permeable language that resembles the monolithic concrete volumes that received the new prisoners.
In a paradoxical way, a light and simple wooden structure connects the solids creating a free and continuous flow of circulation. Once the user experience begins, the access dock is transformed into a free and open structure that houses basic needs, administrative and recreational areas.
The proposal seeks to be sensitive to its physical and historical context, the visual contrast of full and empty spaces generate an attractive tension and contrast, while, at the climatic level, the proposal benefits from its permeability to breathe and light up in a natural way. In a passive way…
The self-sustaining scope of the project ranges from the implementation of passive lighting and ventilation strategies, to the use of new sustainability technologies, such as; the generation and storage of solar energy, the reuse and recollection of rainwater, and the planting of fruits and vegetables for the consumption of longer-term users. In this way, the project feeds on organic and energetic gardens planted around the architecture.
iDEA
Process
Experience
