When thinking of the wide range of tall buildings in the world, one building stands out for us for its invention, elegance and technique. It is the CUBE I Office Tower by Carme Pinós in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Its three, independent curved concrete structures liberate three wedge-shaped, cantilevered platforms forming a central void, a vertical courtyard open to the air. Various levels of its slipped section modify the scale of the overall ensemble. Wooden louvered shutters form an outer layer to protect the office interiors from the Mexican sun. Carved routes absorb cars. Sinuous stairs connect to the ground, forming a generous and welcoming entrance.
In her Caixa Forum Museum, Auditorium and Cultural Centre in Zaragoza, Spain, enormous concrete structural beams liberate the edges and provide free space. Her refined stone and glass Rio Blanco Pavilion perches on its panoramic site, while its roof timbers are held in place by their “stirrups” detail. Hernán Díaz Alonso describes Carme Pinós as being truly radical, challenging the status quo, observing that in her mind there is no distinction between the architectural sketch and the construction drawing.
In the 16th International Architecture Exhibition, Carme Pinós focuses on CUBE I Office Tower, explaining in depth the process of imagining and making, the structure and the life of this exemplary building.
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Estudio Carme Pinós
Cube. Office Tower, Puerta de Hierro