ensamble studio: berklee tower of music, valencia

the berklee tower of music by ensamble studio



spanish architectural firm ensamble studio designed the berklee tower of music as part of valencia
cultural complex, located in the quatre carreres district, in the ronda sur area of valencia near
the new dance and music conservatories. the building has been conceived as a landmark in
the city centre, as a space from where it is possible to contemplate the skyline.

the building houses SGAE theatre and the berklee college of music both of them form a single
presence on the new urban space and are connected in the multifunctional lobby which is a theatre,
a public square and an interactive area.




model of berklee tower of music



the project is composed by two basic elements of opposite forms: a plinth (horizontal building two -
storey high) and a tower standing on top of it (with 24 levels above the two of the plinth).

the plinth accommodates the non- academic activities of the program, which are those more directly
linked to the urban surroundings, like commerce and students’ residential areas, parking and the concert hall.
the roof level of the plinth is a big plaza that gives access to the tower. it acts as a public space where
continuous activities (sports, leisure, cultural, artistic) provide it with a dynamic and multi- functional
character; and it raises the point of view enough to have perspective and be able to contemplate
the surrounding landscape (the harbor, the orchard and the sea). the tower encloses the academic
program (classroom, laboratories, practice and ensemble rooms, recording, production and post production
facilities, media center, offices, storage space, etcetera.)






the tower, which overlooks the plaza, is enclosed by a structural skin built with precast concrete
beams piled up one on top of the other. this outer skin acts as a bearing wall and is braced by
a system of precast concrete beams and buttresses attached to its interior side, which also help
to support the suspended floors that will be arranged in functional blocks.

the different functional blocks (four-storey high) are piled vertically in a gradual rotation forming
a helix of spaces. due to the gradual rotation of the functional piled blocks, a series of urban plazas
are generated inside the tower - every four levels. these urban spaces which give access to each
block provide views depending on the orientation: to the historical quarter, the harbor ,
the mediterranean sea and the valencian orchard.

in opposition to the solid and massive appearance of the tower seen from the outside, the inside
is permeable and transparent and opens to the outside through the huge 'balconies' strategically
located in the facade according to the views and best orientation of the different activities.







the building, from its conception, takes into account the climate and the environmental conditions
of the site to help achieve thermal comfort inside. it deals with design, geometry, orientation
and construction aspects adapting to the climatic conditions of the urban context where it settles,
regarding mechanical systems for climate control as support systems.

therefore it takes advantage of the natural resources available (sun, vegetation, rain, winds) in
order to minimize environmental impact and energy consumption. in this sense, the building can
make great energy saving contributing to its sustainability and sensible adaptation to
the environment.

most of the bioclimatic measures adopted by the building come from traditional mediterranean
constructions. they are passive solutions which respond to the climate of the area: temperature
adaptation, thermal and acoustic insulation, ventilation, lighting and vegetation.




model