CULTURAL CENTRE

DESKTOP STUDY-1
CITY OF CULTURE OF GALACIA
SPAIN

17041AA087
 CITY OF CULTURE OF GALICIA, SPAIN
LOCATION:- SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, SPAIN
ACCESIBILITY SANTIAGO DE
THERE IS SATIAGO DE COMPOSTELA ESTACION DE FERROCARIL BUS COMPOSTELA
STATION WITHIN 2KM.
THE CULTURAL CENTRE CAN ALSO BE REACHED BY OWN PRIVATE
VEHICLES.
CLIMATE SPAIN
• THE CLIMATE OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, THE CAPITAL OF EUROPE SPAIN
GALICIA, LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST OF SPAIN, IS COOL
AND HUMID, IN FACT, IT IS STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY THE
ATLANTIC OCEAN.
• THE WIND BLOWS FREQUENTLY, AND CAN BE STRONG,
ESPECIALLY BETWEEN OCTOBER AND APRIL.
FOG IS ANOTHER FEATURE OF THIS CLIMATE: IT CAN FORM
ALL YEAR ROUND, WHEN THERE IS NO WIND, AND EVEN ON
SUMMER NIGHTS.
• AVERAGE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE: 9 DEGREE CELSIUS.
• AVERAGE MAXIMUN TEMPERATURE: 17 DEGREE CELSIUS. SURROUNDINGS
• RAINFALL:- 1900MM SURROUNDING THE BUILT AREA OF THE CITY OF
CULTURE OF GALACIA, AN AREA OF GARDENS AND
NATIVE WOODLAND, CONCEIVED AS BOTH A
RECREATIONAL AND AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY.
AREA: 92903SQ.M
SITE ANALYSIS
LOCATED ON MONTE GALAS, A SMALL HILL
ARCHITECTS:- PETER OVERLOCKING SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA IS A
EISENMAN NEW CULTURAL CENTER FOR THE PROVINCE OF
GALICIA IN NORTH WESTERN SPAIN.

ALTHOUGH EISENMAN’S PROPOSAL CALLED FOR EIGHT

MATERIALS:- CONCRETE, BUILDINGS, TODAY THE ENTIRE COMPLEX IS CONCEIVED
STONE AND GLASS AS THREE PAIRS OF BUILDINGS (TOTALING SIX
BUILDINGS IN THREE CONSTRUCTION PHASES), WITH
THE LIBRARY OF GALICIA (186,990 SQFT) AND GALICIAN
ARCHIVES (155,205 SQFT) OPENED IN 2011,

SITE PLAN

FOLLOWED A YEAR LATER

BY THE COMPLETION OF
THE MUSEUM OF GALICIA
(223,889 SQFT) AND
CENTRAL SERVICES
BUILDING (80,729 SQFT).
THE REMAINING TWO
STRUCTURES, THE
INTERNATIONAL ART
CENTER AND CENTER FOR
MUSIC AND PERFORMING
ARTS, ARE CURRENTLY
NON-ENTITIES WITH
UNCERTAIN FUTURES
THAT OPERATE AS TWO
GLARING HOLES IN THE
SITE DUE TO COST
OVERRUNS, CREATING A
LIGHTNING ROD FOR
DEBATE.
ARTICULATED SOFFITS RUNNING THE LENGTH OF THE INTERIOR
DEMARCATE MAJOR PUBLIC AREAS FROM OPERATIONAL AND
SERVICE SPACES. THE EXTERIOR IS CLAD IN SPANISH QUARTZITE,
A LOCAL STONE, AND A SPECIALLY DESIGNED CURTAIN WALL THAT
RECALLS TRADITIONAL GLAZING PATTERNS IN GALICIA. THE
ARCHIVE ALSO FEATURES A DOUBLE ROOF: AN INNER,
WATERPROOF MEMBRANE AND AN OUTER, STONE-CLAD LAYER THAT
CHANNELS HEAVY RAIN OFF THE SURFACE AND HIDES ROOF
MECHANICALS. THE GRIDS USED IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE
CAN ALSO BE SEEN IN THE PATTERN OF THE ROOF, AND ALSO
SUPPLY A SECONDARY GUTTER SYSTEM.

DESIGN CONCEPT
THIS PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE EXPLORED
THE FEATURES OF FLUIDITY AND THE
USE OF LAYERING. OTHER THEMES THIS
BUILDING EXPLORED WERE ORGANIC
FORM AND CURVATURE, AS THE CONCEPT
OF THE CITY OF CULTURE OF GALACIA
WAS TO FORM LAYERS OF ROLLING
HILLS, TO BLEND IN WITHIN ITS
SURROUNDINGS.
ORGANIC AND
CURVATURE FORM
THE CONCEPT OF THE PROJECT IS A NEW PEAK ON MONTE GAIÁS,
MADE UP OF A STONY CRUST REMINISCENT OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SITE DIVIDED BY NATURAL BREAKS THAT RESEMBLE SCALLOPS, THE
TRADITIONAL SYMBOL OF COMPOSTELA.
CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM DEVELOPMENT
THE SIX BUILDINGS IN THE MATRIX ARE
CONCEIVED AS THREE PAIRS. THE ARCHIVE
IS PAIRED WITH THE GALICIAN NATIONAL
LIBRARY TO ITS NORTH. THE ARCHIVE AND
LIBRARY SHARE A PEDESTRIAN STREET, OR
CAMINO , AND EACH FEATURES
PEDESTRIAN ARCADES TO PROTECT
VISITORS DURING THE LONG GALICIAN
RAINY SEASON. THE COVERED PASSAGE IN
THE ARCHIVE CLEAVES THE PROGRAM INTO
TWO PARTS, SEPARATING THE GRADE-
LEVEL EXHIBITION GALLERY, WHICH
SERVES THE ENTIRE COMPLEX, FROM THE
TWO-STORY ARCHIVE ITSELF, WHICH
HOUSES PUBLIC READING ROOMS,
ARCHIVING AND CATALOGUING AREAS,
AND CLOSED STACKS.
FLOOR PLANS AND SECTIONS
ARCHIVE PLANS AND SECTIONS:-

THE SIX BUILDINGS OF THE PROJECT ARE

CONCEIVED AS THREE PAIRS: THE MUSEUM
OF GALICIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL ART
CENTER; THE CENTER FOR MUSIC AND
PERFORMING ARTS AND THE CENTRAL
SERVICES BUILDING; AND THE LIBRARY OF
GALICIA AND THE GALICIAN ARCHIVES.
VISITORS’ EXPERIENCES OF ANY GIVEN
BUILDING WILL BE AFFECTED BY ITS
RELATIONSHIP TO ITS IMMEDIATE
PARTNER. THE CAMINOS, OR PEDESTRIAN
STREETS, BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS ALSO
OPEN ONTO A PUBLIC PLAZA, WHICH IS
BORDERED BY THE SIX BUILDINGS AND
FEATURES LANDSCAPE AND WATER
ELEMENTS.

THE ARCHIVE OF GALICIA, AS THE

FLAGSHIP AND CENTRE OF REFERENCE OF
GALICIA’S ARCHIVE SYSTEM, IS AIMED AT
RECEIVING, KEEPING AND RENDERING
AVAILABLE TO CITIZENS EVERY PUBLIC OR
PRÍVATE DOCUMENT IN ANY FORMAT THAT
SHOULD BE PRESERVED DUE TO THEIR
VALUE.
ARCHIVE PLANS AND SECTIONS:-

THE LIBRARY OF GALICIA AND

GALICIAN ARCHIVES OPENED THEIR
DOORS ON JANUARY 11, 2011, DURING A
CEREMONY PRESIDED OVER BY THE
PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF ASTURIAS.
THE 17,372-SQUARE-METER LIBRARY
WILL ACCOMMODATE ONE MILLION
BOOKS IN OPEN STACKS, RARE BOOK
ARCHIVES, AND STOREROOMS ON
SEVERAL LEVELS. THE 14,149-SQUARE-
METER ARCHIVE INCLUDES SPACES FOR
RESEARCH AND EXHIBITION. BOTH THE
LIBRARY AND THE ARCHIVE ARE CLAD
IN QUARTZITE AND FEATURE UNIQUE
CURTAIN WALLS. THE MUSEUM AND
ADMINISTRATION BUILDINGS ARE
EXPECTED TO OPEN IN LATE FALL 2011.

THE LIBRARY OF GALICIA IS THE

FLAGSHIP OF GALICIA'S LIBRARY
SYSTEM. ITS MISSION IS TO
ASSEMBLE, PRESERVE AND
DISSEMINATE GALICIA'S
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL HERITAGE, ENABLING
ACCESS TO IT, EITHER IN PERSON OR
VIRTUALLY. IT IS A KEY ELEMENT FOR
ACTIVITIES RELATED TO BOOKS,
READING AND LIBRARIES, AND THE
DISSEMINATION OF GALICIAN CULTURE
IS ONE OF ITS MAIN AIMS. BESIDES, IT
IS THE LEGAL DEPOSIT OF ALL THE
PUBLICATIONS EDITED IN GALICIA,
HAVING AT LEAST ONE COPY OF ALL OF
THEM IN ITS INSTALLATIONS. 
CONSTRUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY:-

THE COMPLEX IS BEING CONSTRUCTED INTO AN

EXCAVATED HILLSIDE(173-ACRE SITE) IN A
CONTOURED FASHION SO THAT THEY WILL
INTEGRATE AND BE PART OF THE ROLLING HILLSIDE
LEADING INTO THE MOUNTAIN. THE PROJECT IS A ROOF DETAIL OF THE CENTRE
CHALLENGE BECAUSE THE EXTERNAL FAÇADE IS
SUCH A COMPLEX SHAPE AND EACH OF THE
WINDOWS IS A CUSTOM DESIGN.

THE BUILDINGS, CONCEIVED AS THREE PAIRS, IN

THE COMPLEX INCLUDE THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY
OF GALACIA(14,1OOSQ.M,52M AND SIX LEVELS) AND
THE BUILDING OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES
(10,750SQ.M,FIVE LEVELS) ON THE WESTERN SLOPE,
WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE STEEPEST.

THE LIBRARY (15,700SQ.M, 42M AND SIX FLOORS), CONSTRUCTION IMAGES

THE NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE (8500SQ.M, THREE
LEVELS) AND ALSO THE MUSIC
THEATRE(25,000SQ.M, 50M AND SEVEN LEVELS) AND
THE BUILDING FOR CENTRAL SERVICES(5,600SQ.M,
FIVE FLOORS) WILL BE ON THE SOFFER SLANTING
EASTERN SLOPE.
THE DESIGN SUPERPOSES A CARTESIAN GRID ONTO THE
EXISTING, ORGANIC, MEDIEVSL GRID AND THEN WARPS OR
DEFORMS THESE WITH ATOPOLOGICAL GRID THAT PROJECTS
UPWARD IN A NEW VIBRANT GEOMETRY.

THE COMPLEX WILL BE TOPPED OFF WITH THE

HEIDUK TOWERS, WHICH WILL COMPLETE THE MAIN
BUILDINGS AND THE CAMPUS WILL BE SURROUNDED
BY 25,000SQ.M OF WOODLAND (CITY OF CULTURE
FOREST) THAT WILL BE DEFINED BY FIVE
DIFFERENT FOOTPATHS FOR LEISURE WALKING
(THESE ARE ALSO BEING DESIGNED BY EISENMAN).

THE HAND-QUARRIED STONE, CUT BY MACHINE IN 20-INCH SQUARE

BLOCKS (WITH BLOCKS AT THE EDGES SPECIALLY TRIMMED), IS
MOUNTED ON A STEEL ARMATURE OF CURVED BOX BEAMS (OR STEEL
GIRDERS IN THE ARCHIVE) PLUS STEEL CROSS-BRACING.

THE VENTILATED CHUNKY ROOF SURGES OVER AN

UNDER LAYER OF CONCRETE DECK,
WATERPROOFING, AND PROTECTIVE INSULATION

SUSTAINABILITY AND ADAPTABILITY:-

THE SUN MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

ON THE CITY OF CULTURE OF GALACIA,
ACCORDING TO EISENMEN, THE PROFILE OF
THE BULDING IS NOT ONLY THE EDGE OF THE
BUILDING BUT CAN ALSO INCLUDE THE DARK
EDGES OF THE SHADOWS.

THIS INVESTIGATION TRACKS THE SUN’S

MOVEMENTS IN THE MONTHS OF FEBRAURY,
JULY AND OCTOBER THE TIME MEASURED ARE
AT 9AM,12PM AND 3PM AS THE SUN HITS THE
BULDINGS, THE SHADOWS ARE CREATED AND
THE SHAPE OF THE BUILDING EXPANDS AND
CONTRACTS, THE PLACEMENT OF THE BUIDING
ALLOW THE SHADOWS TO OVERLAP AND CAST
SHDOWS UPON ITSELF.

SHADOW DIAGRAM DURING FEBRAURY, JULY, OCTOBER

CULTURAL CENTRE

DESKTOP STUDY-2

ABU DHABI CULTURAL

FOUNDATION
DUBAI
 ABU DHABI CULTURAL FOUNDATION, DUBAI
LOCATION:- ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
ACCESIBILITY
THERE IS ABU DHABI CENTRAL BUS STATION WHICH IS
4.7KM AWAY FROM THE CULTURAL CENTRE.
THE CULTURAL CENTRE CAN ALSO BE REACHED BY OWN
PRIVATE VEHICLES.
ABU DHABI
CLIMATE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
• THE CLIMATE OF ABU DHABI IS A TYPE OF DESERT
CLIMATE.
• DURING THE YEAR THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO RAINFALL.
• AVERAGE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE: 20 DEGREE CELSIUS.
• AVERAGE MAXIMUN TEMPERATURE: 33 DEGREE CELSIUS.
• RAINFALL:- 75MM

SITE ANALYSIS AND SURROUNDINGS

TOTAL AREA: 32068SQ.M
IT IS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN ABU DUBAI,
UAE, OFF KHALIFA STREET AND NEXT TO THE WHITE FORT,
ALSO KNOWN AS QASRAL-HOSN PALACE. THE ABU DHABI
BUILTUP AREA: 32828SQ.M CULTURAL FOUNDATION IS OPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

ARCHITECT:- AROADD, INO

1. AL-HOSN PALACE

MATERIALS:;
STONE,CONCRETE,GLASS

2-PARKING AREA SITE PLAN SHOWING SUUROUNDING

3.ETISALAT TOWER
BUILDINGS AND MAIN ROADS

SITE PLAN
DESIGN CONCEPT
ABU DHABI CULTURAL FOUNDATION IS A MODERN COMPLEX
WITH A TRADITIONAL DESIGN. THIS BUILDING IS
DESIGNED TRADITIONALLY. THE BUILDING HAS A TYPICAL
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE. THE BUILDING HOSTS ARCHED
COLUMNS AND ELANORATED COURTYARDS.

FORM AND GEOMETRY

ABU DHABI CULTURAL FOUNDATION IS A MODERN COMPLEX
WITH A TRADITIONAL DESIGN. THE FUNCTIONAL,
CONCRETE CULTURAL FOUNDATION HAS AN ELEGANT
COLONNADE DESIGNED TO CATCH THE BREEXE. THE
ISLAMIC TILES ARE WORTH NOTING. IT SHOWCASES THE
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE.

INCORPORATING QASR-AL-HISN (OLDEST FORT IN DUBAI)

THE FOUNDATION IS HOUSED IN A DELIGHTFUL MODERN
BUILDING OF ISLAMIC DESIGN WITH ARCHING WHITE
COLONNADES, COOL COURTYARDS AND RESTFUL GARDENS.

FUNCTION AND CIRCULATION

1. EXHIBITION HALL
2. EXHIBITION
3. AUDITORIUM
4. CHILDREN
EDUCATIONAL
CENTRE
5. CHILDREN
EDUCATIONAL
CENTRE

GROUND ORR CIRCULATION SHOWS THE ACCESIBILTY OF ALL THE FUNCTIONS

THE BUILDING CONTAIN

FOUR MAJOR FUNCTIONS:-
AUDITORIUM
AUDITORIUM
INTERNET
INTERNET • THE LIBRARY:- IT’S
SECTION
SECTION DEFINED BY A LAYOUT
OF ARCADEMTHAT GIVES
THE FUTURE
EXPANSION. IT’S CHILDREN CULTURAL
EXHIBITION DEFINED BY A LAYOUT CENTRE
EXHIBITION
HALL OF ARCADE THAT GIVES
HALL
ACCESS TO A SERIES OF
COURTYARDS TO THE
SOUTHEAST OF THE
CULTURAL CENTRE.
• CENTRE EXHIBITION
HALL HALL THAT IS
EXHIBITION THREE STORIES IN
EXHIBITION
HEIGHT.
• ENTRANCE TO CHILDREN
CHILDREN LIBRARY, EXHIBITION
CHILDREN
EDUCATION AND AUDITORIUM ARE
EDUCATION
CENTRE ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
CENTRE

GROUND FLOOR FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP

 LIBRARY

1. NATIONAL LIBRARY
2. READING AREA
3. EXHIBITION HALL
4. AUDITORIUM
5. CHILDREN
EDUCATIONAL
CENTRE

FIRST ORR CIRCULATION SHOWS THE ACCESIBILTY OF ALL THE FUNCTIONS

• CONFERENCE FACILITIES THAT INCLUDES 1000 SEATS

AUDITORIUM IS ON THE NORTH WEST FACILITATE PUBLIC
ACCESS WITH LECTURE HALLS WHICH ARE IN THE CENTER
OVER LOOKING THE EXHIBITION HALL AND CAN FUNCTION
AUDITORIUM INDEPENDENTLY OR BE USED IN CONJUCTION WITH THE
AUDITORIUM
LIBRARY.
NATIONAL
NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION METHOD AND TECHNOLOGY
LIBRARY
LIBRARY
• GLAZED CURTAIN WALLS IN THE READING AREA IN THE
LIBRARY.
• REUNFORCED CONCRETE
• THE DESIGN INCORPORATES MOST MODERN
TECHNOLOGIES, AND INCLUDES DECORATIVE GLAZED
BRICK, TILED ARCADES AND LOCAL ARCHITECTURAL STYLES.
• THE LIBRARY IS DEFINED BY A LAYOUT OF
ARCADESNWHICH GIVES ACCESS TO A SERIES OF
READING
READING EXHIBITION
EXHIBITION CORTYARDS TO THE SOUTHEAST OF THE CULTURAL CENTER.
AREA
AREA • THE NATIONAL LIBRARY INCLUDES A ONE MILLION
VOLUME CLOSED STACK COLLECTION, MAIN CATALOGUE,
CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT, CHILDREN,S LIBRARY, READING
AREAS AND RESEARCH CENTRE.
STRUCTURE SYSTEM
• LOW RISE TWO FLOORS
• ARCHED COLUMNS
• ELABORATE COURTYARD
• BEAUTIFULLY CARVED
DOORWAYS
• ELEGANT COLONNADES

SUSTAINBILITY AND ADAPTABILITY

• ELEGANT COLONNADE DESIGNED TI

CATCH THE BREEZE.
• ARCHING WHITE COLONNADES,
COOL COURT YARDS AND RESTFUL
GARDENS.
GROUND FLOOR HORIZANTAL CIRCULATION

FIRST FLOOR VERTICAL CIRCULATION