CEIFyCH - Phytoremediation Center

Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Tucumán

Project idea

The main idea is return the environmental healthyness and consequently to the society, and maximize the privileged relationship with the Salí river and the basin; it is recover a degraded area in the Tucumán province, due to the incorrect human action, both public and private, on this environment. Also, the motive of the project was to design an architectural prototype in terms of phytoremediation, due to the current aggravating fresh water contamination and the lack of architectural programs that cover this demand.
The recovery of the area includes several stages of action wich are registered in a Masterplan, designed according to this urban visualizations: Fluvial City - Patrimonial City - Scientific-intellectual-artistic-productive City - City of Services - Integrated City - Touristic city. The Ecologic Urbanization Project consist of 3 parts: Biological Corridor + Center - Other functions - Hydric Network. The Biological Corridor + Center pair would be complemented by an environmental monitoring network of the basin, through sampling stations.

Project description

The Center consist of 3 main parts: the private area (research function), the semi-private area (education function) and the public area (recreation and broadcasting function). This parts are connected to transition spaces with their own function (cafeteria, greenhouse, aviary and aquarium). This parts define 3 volumes connected with vertical and horizontal circulation. The Horizontal Circulation developes on the main compositional axis east-west, and the main spaces are oriented to the north and the secondary ones to the south. Ergo, various "internal roads" and points of interest are generated with the game of double, triple heigth inside the building and its "skin" (building cover) that sifts sunlight and views to the outside.
The building has 2 entrances: one main public for the social area and another private for the research area.

Technical information

The Center could be realised in stages, starting with research area, wich is the most necessary part in the phytoremedation process. Also the structure has a module of 5 meters and his corresponding multiples.
The diferent levels of the building hang on of steel porticos-structure supported by reinforced concrete columns.
The building services are disigned to take advantage of resources from the immediate environment: solarpanels - rainwater harvesting - grey water reuse - hydroponic cultivation.

Co-authors

In my final project, the collaboration, analysis and guidance of my University professors Arqta. Patricia Anido, Arqta. Beatriz Coronel, Arq. Miguel Mansueto, Arq. Ramón Paliza and Arq. Abel Tannure were indispensable.