Seville-based architectural firm EovaStudio has renovated and improved a sports pavilion located in Palma del Río, Córdoba, Spain. “Pabellón Ferrobús” is a project for the CEIP Ferrobús bilingual center for early childhood and primary education.
The project’s key objective was to create a versatile and sustainable community space that can help to enrich the social fabric of Palma del Río’s V Centenario neighborhood, described as a “disadvantaged area”. Pabellón Ferrobús is open to associations and organizations outside normal school hours, encouraging wider community engagement and promoting a sense of place and belonging.
The sports pavilion’s renovation embraces sustainability and energy efficiency measures. The approach taken by EovaStudio makes effective use of the existing metal structure, applying a building envelope consisting of glazed terracotta, polycarbonate, and perforated corrugated sheet metal. “This design not only complies with regulations and functional requirements, but also contributes to reducing the building's environmental footprint,” says the studio. The design optimizes thermal and acoustic efficiency, natural light, and ventilation; in addition, the facade’s highly durable quality protects the pavilion from the possibility of vandalism.
Choosing a glazed terracotta facade
For the Pabellón Ferrobús project, EovaStudio specified a Baguette Oval glazed terracotta facade from Tempio, a Spanish company skilled in the production of ceramic ventilated facade systems for both new and renovated buildings. The company’s Baguette Oval 160 x 50 x 1,200 (millimeters) in a White Formentera color was chosen.
Tempio featured in Archello’s list of the 25 best ceramic facade cladding manufacturers. The company works with architects who understand that ceramic facades combine design, aesthetic quality, and functionality.
“The idea of the project was to use sustainable and durable materials. The ceramic slats allow us to create a semi-open facade that, with the rest of the materials and construction solutions, allows good ventilation and filters natural light, creating a pleasant environment for playing sports,” explains EovaStudio. “The pavilion building is in an urban area, so we were also looking for a noble material that allows us to create an interesting rhythm and play of light on a very large facade.”
Javier Galiana at Tempio’s Technical Department managed the Pabellón Ferrobús project and highlights several qualities that set the Baguette Oval glazed terracotta facade apart from other systems: “The Baguette Oval glazed is unique because it brings movement to the facade. Shadows created by the sun’s rays on the gloss finish give the facade a greater sense of volume. In addition, the assembly system is very easy, reducing the execution time.”
Material quality
The facade’s material qualities, such as providing an overall perfect fit, were important to the project’s successful execution.
“As the material is extruded, we can manufacture each oval baguette to the length required for a project, ensuring they fit perfectly with the facade designed by the architect,” says Javier Galiana. “We worked with EovaStudio from the outset of the project to make sure the product and color were suited to the pavilion’s facade.”
“Tempio provided samples of the slat and enameled colors and its specialists advised us throughout project’s development, resolving and providing technical solutions,” says EovaStudio. “For example, we chose a large and heavy ceramic slat — from a technical perspective, we had to solve how it could be placed vertically for more than 4 meters (13 feet) of continuous length without any visual interruption.”
Mood and ambience
Characterized by a unique texture and organic shape, Tempio’s Baguette Oval skin positively affects the overall mood and ambience of a space. Javier Galiana highlight’s the product’s warmth, its distinctive appearance, and the textural contrast to other materials as factors that work to create a rich sensory experience, adding depth and character to the Pabellón Ferrobús project.
From EovaStudio’s perspective, the Baguette Oval skin’s affect on the mood and ambience of the space was important: “As a studio, we especially enjoy working with ceramic. We know the material and believe that a glazed and glossy curved surface better reflects light, creating a facade that changes its appearance throughout the course of the day. Tempio’s oval ceramic slat has an appropriate scale and allowed us to achieve this effect on a large facade. We chose the white color to maintain a neutral appearance and to reflect a more traditional Andalusian architectural style.”
Sustainability and beneficial qualities
The sustainability of the Baguette Oval glazed terracotta facade was important to the project’s success. Javier Galiana explains: “Tempio’s baguettes are composed of 50 percent recycled materials. We reincorporate 100 percent of the water used in the process as well as 100 percent of any materials that are discarded. We create zero waste by reusing, reducing, and recycling.”
The Baguette Oval glazed terracotta facade offers durability, resistance to wear and tear, a waterproof finish, solar protection, and the easy replacement of individual sections.
Finished project
The use of the Baguette Oval skin met with the approval of the project’s client, Iltre Ayuntamiento De Palma Del Río (city council). “The client is very satisfied with the solution because they were looking for a sustainable and long-lasting building,” says EovaStudio. “The pavilion also has a very good reception among neighbors and users.”
The sports pavilion’s enhanced facilities include new courts and storage areas, thereby providing the community with a more inclusive and accessible sports environment. It is hoped the pavilion will help to improve quality of life in Palma del Río’s V Centenario neighborhood.
Thank you to Asia Jedrus at EovaStudio and Javier Galiana at Tempio.
