roberto ercilla: mechanical ramps

‘mechanical ramps’ by roberto ercilla, vitoria, spain all images courtesy of roberto ercilla

bisecting the center of vitoria in northern spain and climaxing at the cultural center, roberto ercilla’s ‘mechanical ramps’ improve accessibility for the local community from one end of town to the other in a protected and constantly transforming sequence, punctuated by sections of level ground which open to the exterior. analogous to frames in a film, the one-meter intervals stainless steel structures progressively offset from the previous, causing an overall perception of a free-flowing twisting interior space. views from the moving walkways are controlled along the way through the same principle: at a distance the form seems solid and continuous while at the user’s current position they will be exposed to the surrounding environment, maintaining visual interest throughout their experience.

as the town suffers from extreme weather conditions from summer to winter, environmental issues were taken into account in the design of the walkways. the glass canopy protects pedestrians from natural elements, while at the same time reflecting a high percentage of direct sunlight along with small slits at the edges to naturally ventilate the space. the project is also strategically oriented on the site to benefit from the shade created by the adjacent buildings.  

geo coordinates: 42° 50′ 55” N  ,  2° 40′ 20” W

canton de la soledad

exterior

interior

interior

interior

site plan

floor plan

section

top: solar studies bottom: section

section: natural ventilation and direct sunlight reflectance

section: natural ventilation and direct sunlight reflectance