The “living-roof” project by Magen Arquitectos and Rebeca Tristán (re) activates the roof’s propose as an exploration of use possibilities for contemporary urban roofs, transforming them – through their use – in an architectural space to be lived in and used as a support for activities associated with their condition of elevated planes over the cityscape. The location of this particular project is the roof of Ebro Environmental Center in Zaragoza and it explores the possibilities of a public facility as an urban space, viewpoint, energy collector, green area, and even as an urban garden. The pavilions overlooking Zaragoza tend to be a prototype of a portable and removable modular installation that transforms an old tiled terrace in a supporting system for outdoor activities, giving the cityscape in the background new purposes. The arrangement of the L-pavilions – linked by a longitudinal pergola – sets the limits of space, along with the landscaping in the remaining two sides of the perimeter of the roof. The materials used allow a quick assembly and enhance the dissolution of boundaries between inside and outside, especially through the sliding and stacking joinery which transform the pavilions in outdoor porches. The dual orientation of the pavilions enhance cross ventilation, power attractive views over the historic town, while gardening on the opposite side, as a vegetal lattice, limits visions towards the residential side.
Info and images courtesy of Simón García | arqfoto.com
