Alcolea Centre for the mentally challenged with ULMA Ventilated Facades — ULMA Begira

Ulma Architectural Solutions

Alcolea Centre for the mentally challenged with ULMA Ventilated Facades

A "human" building in downtown Córdoba
Alcolea Centre for the mentally challenged with ULMA Ventilated Facades
Jun 20, 2013

When one fully considers all the key factors involved in a project and when one takes great care of all the details, the end result is always excellent and worthy of note.

For the development and project planning of the Alcolea Centre for the mentally challenged, the project managers, José Carlos Rico Córdoba, Jorge Roa Fernández, Antonio J. Robles Ramírez took three essential criteria into account:

  • Who is going to "live" there: The User
  • How to make the most of the ideal location: Place and view.
  • Taking advantage of the existing Topography to the benefit of the planned services and requirements.

José Carlos Rico Córdoba, one of the project managers told us:

Reflecting on who is going to inhabit the building, its typology and its relationship with the surrounding environment could be seen as the driving force behind the project. In fact, understanding the building as a permanent residence and not merely as a healthcare centre has been key to developing the building.”

The decision to implement the work using the Ventilated Facade system was mainly down to criteria based on Energy Efficiency. With this system we managed to fit the building with thermal insulation thereby reducing its energy consumption and bringing greater comfort for the "residents".”

Why ULMA?

"Choosing the materials and products making up the envelope and its exterior finish was down to an episode with a special and highly delicate significance. The specific conditions for  durability and low maintenance, as well as requirements for greater resistance than conventional elements made the list of potential products limited. This was due to their technical possibilities, the precise assembly, the quality finish and above all the thermal stability, in an area so close to the sierra and with high temperature variations."

Further information on the Alcolea Centre for the Mentally Challenged.