The Carlos Santamaría Centre, located in San Sebastian, is an advanced data centre and library, linked to the Ibaeta University Campus and the result of a competition developed by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU).
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The building is conceived as a huge container, shaped from a spontaneous outline following the natural curve of the lot. The line is the wall containing the two blocks arranged in a North-South direction, and its vertex is at the place we consider the most important: the building’s main access, which opens up like a large mouth, pointing the vertex towards the sky.
The division of the construction into two blocks also makes the creation of a private, inner garden possible, like an extension of the spaces that overlook it. It is a quiet, green area, accessible for strolling, reading and group meetings, always lighted from the south and north, an outdoor counterpoint to urban noise, inside the building.
With regard to its construction, the principal façade of the building is a curved wall of 25cm made out of white self-compacting concrete. In the garden which divides the building the solution of the façades consists of IPE wood planks.
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Architect: Ander Marquet Ryan, JAAM sociedad de arquitectura s.l.p.
Quantity surveyor: Juncal Aldamizechevarría
Collaborators: June Gómez Alonso, Emmanuele Pibiri, Naia Landa Méndez, Mario Domínguez Maestre
Structure: Minteguia y Bilbao
Services: PGI (project), JG ingenieros (construction)
Developer: University of The Basque Country (UPV-EHU)
Construction company: Construcciones Moyua
Date of project: January 2008
End of construction: July 2011
Area: 24.000m²
