batlle i roig arquitectes: waste treatment facility from vallès occidental in vacarisses

'waste treatment facility from vallès occidental in vacarisses' by batlle i roig arquitectes, vacarisses, spain
image © francisco urrutia
all images courtesy batlle i roig arquitectes


the 'waste treatment facility' in vallès occidental, spain by spanish practice batlle i roig arquitectes has won the world production,
energy and recycling building of the year from the 2011 world architecture festival. positioned on a hillside overlooking the
coll cardús massif in vacarisses near barcelona, spain, this structure rests upon a controlled waste landfill landfill which is nearing
its capacity limit. the managing body decided against closing the center and chose to study other possibilities for the site. the specific
location of the building has been selected due to its already damaged state to reduce environmental impacts resulting from its
installation and operation after construction.



green roof
image © francisco urrutia


an elongated roof which covers the entire treatment areas visually expresses a driveway which bisects the program below which
an angled step to adjust for the descending terrain. rainwater collection and energy from the biogas generated by the processing
of the trash sustains by the building's operations. a geometric pattern of assorted circles surfaces the extensive canopy containing
vegetation, forced air vents and skylights. native groundcover and shrubs are planted within the planters while intermittent gravel
and earth filled modules add color to the graphic arrangement.



translucent glass facade conceals treatment facilities inside
image © francisco urrutia



green roof planters
image © francisco urrutia



skylight
image © francisco urrutia



driveway which bisects the site
image © francisco urrutia



view of the structure from base of the hill
image © francisco urrutia



roof plan



section



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green wall detail



roof axonometric


project info:


authors: enric batlle, joan roig, architects
collaborators: xavier ramoneda, architect, mario suñer, architect, idema, engineering project
date: 2008
work date: 2010
area: 45.000m2
developer: consorci per a la gestió dels residus del vallès occidental
builder: ute ctr-valleys (hera, fcc and urbaser)
budget: 74.000.000 EUR
photography: francisco urrutia