A sustainable, socially open civic space for new technologies
On the intersection of Carrer Sancho de Ávila and Carrer Roc Boronat stands one of Barcelona’s strangest yet most eco-friendly buildings : Media Tec.
Home to national and international ICT companies its fluorescent green colour makes it stand out even at night. Designed by architecture firm Cloud-9, led by architect Enric Ruiz-Geli it is an expressive combination of creative endeavour, environmental awareness and a civic space open to the public at large.
But it does more than that! The cube shaped building of large iron beams covered in inflatable plastic bubbles not only gives it an avant-garde feel but serves a functional purpose as an instrument for regulating light and temperature. Translucent EFTE – ethylene tetrafluoroethylene cladding – (say that after a couple of glasses of Cava!) acts as an external cover and a solar screen facilitating the penetration of light – they are 85% efficient – and thus cutting down on heating bills and reducing the CO2 emissions by 114 tonnes per year.
The roof has a natural gardened area and rain water is collected in a tank to maximize use of the building´s wastewater circuits.
Visit its website to know more about this amazing building, or go see for yourself!
