Villa NURBS
Villa NURBS is designed by Enric Ruiz-Geli, Of Barcelona-based practice Cloud 9 and it is located in Empuriabrava, Costa Brava, Spain. The design combines complex geometries and organic forms with technologies and materials. In this project, the building was studied with regard to five aspects: form generation, rationalization, representation, materialization, and fabrication.
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The rationalisation of the form follows the original design in a NURBS-based geometry: A 220 m2 house in 1800 m2 plot and 130 m2 land occupation. In fact, the design is based on the topography concept using contour lines every 45 and 15 cm as follows:
a) The reinforced concrete structure begins at two points generating a platform with a 15 cm resolution.
b) Beyond the concrete level, the steel structure is generated with a 45 cm resolution.
The upper floor is planned around a free form swimming pool in the middle of the space, while surrounded by living spaces.
Fabrication of the pieces was studied in terms of the construction process and materials.
The oval-shaped structure rises out of the ground on two cylindrical concrete legs. For this concrete part, wooden formwork had fabricated separately to form the oval shape with layers for concrete base.
Rings of steel structure are the fundamental pieces of the building’s structure that forms the smoth skin. The studs perform as vertical framing members within the building's skin.
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The skin is to act like a pile of leaves that protect the building from solar radiation, from the rain, from the wind while opening it up at the same time to the offshore breezes.
