New Research Building of the VHIO Foundation, Barcelona

The VHIO Foundation, which currently concentrates its oncology research in the Cellex building in Barcelona, is facing space constraints and is looking to double its laboratory space and create new common areas. However, urban planning restrictions make it difficult to build a new building adjacent to the current one, so the VHIO is calling for tenders to find a solution that meets its needs. 

In response to this call, PMMT developed a radical technical proposal, adjusted to the needs expressed by the VHIO in its tender documents, which advocates a clear and legally viable urban planning strategy, including the management with Urbanism to establish a new Special Plan.

The proposal responds to the lack of laboratories and spaces for researchers, by proposing an extension based on a fully parametric design, through the modulation of the structure and distribution, which allows for flexibility and mutation of the spaces according to the needs of the moment. 

At the same time, it provides a functional and formal solution to the connection with the current Cellex building by means of a central vertebral volume which, on each floor, forms areas of different character.