The conception of the project lies on the central question of how to shape the work environment optimizing the resources at hand, in a traditional brick house in the rather cold and humid weather of Bogotá, 2600 masl in the Andean tropical mountain chain. How to coneive spaces to encourage interaction and creativity in the work environment? How to promote productivity and efficiency? How to improve thermic comfort? The client is a foundation specialized in the socialization and democratization of ICTs.
The answer is a space for innovation and relaxation, a workshop -with mobile devices-, for events and informal meetings; free and versatile,. The was winner of the 2015 Steel Pencil Award in the category od interior architectural design.
The intervention is a passive heating device for the traditional house built in 1942, contributing to its conservation and reuse. It consists of a structural system of tree shaped Cor-Ten steel columns built in the patio, independent of the load-bearing walls. The organic structure symbolizes the nodes and branches of ICT networks that the Colnodo Organization designs for its users. The 6.00 m high enclosure in 8mm tempered laminated glass rises above the window openings. The resulting greenhouse effect and heat conduction, increases the temperature of the house (between 3 and 5 °) by openning its windows towards the covered patio. The longitudinal bench and the wooden Teka floors are built over timber joists, for a better acoustic and thermic isolation