Barclay & Crousse Architecture

Visual Arts School

Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse

VISUAL ARTS SCHOOL

Barclay&crousse Architecture

YEAR
2012

MANUFACTURERS
Graphisoft

CATEGORY
University, Extension

LOCATION
Miraflores, Peru

CONTRACTOR
Eital Sa

COLLABORATORS
Paulo Shimabukuro, Melissa Apolaya

STRUCTURES
Zegarra y Yecklé Ingenieros

Visual Arts School
© Jorge Luis Dieguez
Visual Arts School
© Jorge Luis Dieguez

Text description provided by architect.

Extending a building vertically is a difficult task, especially when time separates the original construction from the extension.

Visual Arts School
Cortesía de BARCLAY&CROUSSE Architecture
Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse

The strategy consists of integrating the different 'lifetimes' of the building creating a new unit: the project arises from the analysis of the design strategies used by previous architects to propose an extension that relates to the building without imitating it, keeping the prominence of the original version.

The original building, a notable example of Neo Inca architecture, is the work of architect Emilio Harth-Terré and was conceived as an eminently massive volume, two stories high but with an expression that gives the illusion of a single monumental level.

In 1999 it was intervened by architect Pier Baracco, who created a second partial level and introduced a metal structure as support points for a future vertical extension.

Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse
Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse
Visual Arts School
© Jorge Luis Dieguez

The 2007 project performs the extension of the third and fourth levels, operating a reverse scale alteration: instead of increasing it to monumentalize it.

As the original architect did, the scale is decreased (with tripartite levels on two floors), so as not to compete with the prominence of the original facade.

We opted for a light steel structure to meet the tight construction time available to comply with the academic semesters of the school, which would not close during construction.The extension is supported on the metal structure design in P.

Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse
Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse
Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse
Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse

Baracco's project, and promotes a light reading on the facade, so that the original building does not look overwhelmed by an added 'visual weight'.

The glass skin has a random rhythm, with fixed tempered glass panes on two planes to create a play of light and shadow, and natural aluminum aerators to ensure proper ventilation.

The aerators have surfaces with different finishes (natural anodized and black lacquered) generating a perception of a kinetic facade that changes its appearance depending on the direction from which it is perceived.

Visual Arts School
© Jorge Luis Dieguez
Visual Arts School
© Jorge Luis Dieguez

Inside, the two existing stairs are vertically extended and are connected by metal walkways that from the third level, cross over the original courtyard to meet the current demands of evacuation and fire and seismic safety.

Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse
Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse

These walkways work as suspended courtyards, creating intermediate informal learning spaces between the traditional courtyard and the accessible roof.

Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse
Visual Arts School
© Jorge Luis Dieguez
Visual Arts School
© Jorge Luis Dieguez

A large urban porch, located on the third and fourth levels, opens toward the city and echoes the hallway of the historic building.


Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse
Visual Arts School
© Jean Pierre Crousse


Visual Arts School
Axonometries
Visual Arts School
Model


Visual Arts School
Initial First Floor Plan

Visual Arts School
Floor Plan 1

Visual Arts School
Initial Second Floor Plan

Visual Arts School
Floor Plan 3

Visual Arts School
Floor Plan 2

Visual Arts School
Floor Plan 4

Visual Arts School
Floor Plan 5

Visual Arts School
Roof Plan


Visual Arts School
Initial North Elevation
Visual Arts School
Initial East Elevation
Visual Arts School
East Elevation
Visual Arts School
North Elevation


Visual Arts School
East Elevation, 1997 Project
Visual Arts School
North Elevation, 1997 Project


Visual Arts School
Section 1
Visual Arts School
Section 2

Barclay & Crousse Architecture
T +51 1 2520503
Barclay & Crousse Architecture
Choquehuanca 199, Chorrillos Lima 15064 , Peru