The Sancho el Sabio Foundation, dating from 1964, is the main documentation and investigation centre of Basque culture and history.
Sancho El Sabio Foundation, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura
Designed by Spaish firm Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura, the proposal involves the recovery of a former cemetery and based on that, the development of the remaining building. Because the programme contemplates important storage spaces, it was decided that all of the storage areas and adjoining work areas would be on basement level and the former cemetery would hold a lobby, meeting rooms, administration, and movement.
Sancho El Sabio Foundation, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura
The proposal contemplates the coexistence of the two buildings. Illumination at night will allow the total comprehension of the proposal as one can clearly see the old building wrapped in a glass shell.
Sancho El Sabio Foundation - Conceptual idea, drawing courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura
The main idea is to preserve the old building in a glass structure that would also provide natural light to the basement level. To achieve this, a perimetrical ring around the cemetery is emptied and the glass fa?ade of the new building is built up from this fissure.
Sancho El Sabio Foundation, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura
Sancho El Sabio Foundation, image courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura
The basement is developed as an external ring around the cemetery and in it are located different storage and work rooms.
+ Project credits / data
Project: SANCHO EL SABIO FOUNDATION 2006/2008
Surface: 2,590 m2
Works Budget: 3.887.544 €
Site: Polígono Betono, Vitoria
Developer: Caja Vital Kutxa
Architects: http://www.robertoercilla.com/
Roberto Ercilla
Miguel Angel Campo
Technical Architects:
Laura Montoya, Antonio Bengoa
Collaborators:
Gerens Hill, Project Management
Raquel Ochoa. Architect. Coordinator work
Laura Angulo. Architect
Mikel Sanz. Architect
Inaki Ciganda. Architect
Inconor Engineering Instalations
Eduardo Martín. Stuctural works
Ikonografik. Senalética
Cesar San Millan, Photographer
Quintas, Photographer
Construction Company:
Construcciones Zikotz
Alcotán Fachadas
+ All images and drawings courtesy Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura | Photo by Quintas & Cesar San Millan
