VHIR - Vall d'Hebron Research Institute

A biomedical research building of around 17,000 m² located within the Vall d’Hebron Hospital Campus, designed to blend into the landscape by concealing the impact of its volume. The building employs concrete tinted to match the colour of the surrounding earth, following a strategy of integration that minimises its presence. Natural light enters through three large courtyards, each with its own character: the first contains the lobby and floods it with light; the second reaches down to the basement; and the third opens as a plaza onto the promenade.

The project stems from a competition proposing a strategic reflection on the future of the Campus, of which this building is the first piece. The Campus is currently a collection of disconnected buildings, difficult to access due to the topography, enclosed in a site that interrupts connections with the surrounding residential neighbourhoods. The proposal envisions three large level promenades connecting these neighbourhoods and improving accessibility to both the Hospital and the districts via a vertical axis of escalators. Each promenade will be formed by semi-underground buildings accommodating the footprints of obsolete structures set for demolition and the required new growth. The first building constructed, VHIR Biomedical Research Center, is located at the upper part of the Campus, linked to the university building with which it establishes strong connections, particularly at the ground floor hosting the most public program, while reserving private functions for upper levels.

The building is conceived with a solid, durable concrete structure, complemented by lightweight materials for its partitions. Tinted metal is used in interior partitions and wood in representative spaces. The architecture aims to be honest, exposing its construction and avoiding decorative finishes. The façade is deliberately timeless, designed to endure over time while softening its perceived scale. At the rear, facing the hillside, a full-height void houses all necessary climate and operational installations, allowing daily maintenance from the basement ramp without disrupting research activities. The thermal inertia of the semi-buried concrete structure, together with solar shading from courtyard awnings creating an intermediate microclimate, and perimeter shaded terraces with automated sun protection, ensures optimal thermal performance for an energy-intensive program. The roof collects rainwater in tanks for maintenance, planted with low-demand native vegetation.