Offices for the Junta de Castilla y León

BUILDING WITH AIR Facing the cathedral and following the outline of the former convent's kitchen garden, we erect a strong stone wall box open to the sky. Its walls and floors entirely made of stone. The very same stone as the Cathedral. A real Hortus Conclusus. In the corner facing the cathedral, a massive stone measuring 250x150x50, a veritable Cornerstone. And chiselled on that stone: HIC LAPIS ANGULARIS MAIO MMXII POSITO Within the stone box, a glass box, only glass. Like a greenhouse. With a double facade similar to a Trombe wall. The external skin of the facade is made of glass, each single sheet measuring 600x300x2,4 cm and all joined together simply with structural silicone and hardly anything else. As if entirely made of air. The facade works actively in regard to the climate, able to hold in heat in the winter (greenhouse effect) and at the same time to expel the heat and protect the building in the summer (ventilated facade). The trihedral upper angles of the box are made completely with glass, thus even further accentuating the effect of transparency. Precisely what Mies was looking for in his Friedrichstrasse tower. The trihedron built with air, a true Glass Corner. And engraved in acid on the glass: HOC VITRUM ANGULARIS MAIO MMXII POSITO The stone box made from Memory. With its Cornerstone deeply rooted in the soil. The glass box made for the Future. With its Glass Corner blending into the sky. To build with air, the abiding dream of every architect. TECHNICAL DATA: PLOT: In front of the Cathedral Area: 3.260 m2 BUILDING: 2 storeys + basement Area: 12.100 m2 FUNCTIONS: Ground and first floor: offices and library. Basement level: lecture hall, store and mechanical rooms. Garage. STRUCTURE: Reinforced concrete.