voluar arquitectura: comisaria fuencarral

‘comisaria fuencarral’ by voluar arquitectura, fuencarral, madrid, spain image © angel baltanas

spanish practice voluar arquitectos have finished construction on the ‘comisaria fuencarral’ in madrid, spain. a deconstruction of the basic courtyard typology, this local police station changes the relationship between a state-owned building and the community through layers of transparency. the general cube form is organized around a large full-height interior patio, visually connecting the services within the building. the private spaces by contrast are easily distinguishable as cantilevered solid cubes protruding out of the glass box. 

the project is set back from the property line to include public urban development. one of the most defining features is the anodized aluminum mesh screens that are periodically perforated to control depth of field and light penetration. these panels create a visual impedance towards the interior during the day while allowing undisturbed views to the surrounding city. at night, the building glows with light to expose the inner functions to the outside world. natural stones are framed into free-standing sections that run along the perimeter of the construction. the homogeneity of the material palette is broken on the inside with moments of black marble and wood members.

urban courtyard image © angel baltanas

exterior

approach image © angel baltanas

elevation image © angel baltanas

elevation image © angel baltanas

approach with urban courtyard image © angel baltanas

gabion stone elements outlining lower perimeter

curtain wall image © angel baltanas

ground level image © angel baltanas

first level terrace image © angel baltanas

aluminum mesh screens image © angel baltanas

entry image © angel baltanas

interior patio image © angel baltanas

interior courtyard

courtyard roof with skylights image © angel baltanas

form evolution

watercolor sketch

site plan

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 2

floor plan / level 3

roof plan

section

section

elevation

elevation

wall section