FIRST PRIZE MASTER THESIS CATEGORY
ANDECE.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE METRO IN THE 80'S TO THE RAMÓN Y CAJAL SQUARE TURNED THIS SPACE INTO THE GATEWAY TO THE MADRID UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. YEARS AFTER, A METRO DEPOT, AND A 5 FLOORS UNDERGROUND SUBTERRANEAN CAR PARK ON TOP OF IT, WHERE BUILT NEXT TO THE STATION. TODAY, THREE OF FIVE FLOORS FROM THE CAR PARK ARE NOT BEING USED, THE METRO STATION HAS REACHED A FLUX OF 20000 PASSENGERS PER DAY, AND THE UNIVERSITY IS LACKING SPACE. IN ADDITION, THE SQUARE ON TOP OF THE STATION IS LACKING ACTIVITY.
THIS PROJECT MAKES USE OF THE EXISTING UNUSED CAR PARK STRUCTURE. THREE PATIOS ARE EXCAVATED IN THE SQUARE TO ALLOW NATURAL LIGHT TO THE UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES. THE UNIVERSITY COLONIZES THE EXISTING STRUCTURE WITH A LIBRARY, AN ARCHIVE... WHILE THE CAR PARK USE IS STILL ALLOWED IN THE DEEPEST FLOORS. THE METRO STATION IS NOW FLOODED WITH NATURAL LIGHT. WHAT USED TO BE EARTH, BETWEEN THE GROUND LEVEL AND THE STATION, ARE NOW THEATERS, AN EXPOSITION HALL... SEVERAL ARCHITECTURAL PROMENADES ARE CREATED BETWEEN THE 24M DEEP STATION AND THE DIFFERENT FACULTIES, AND THE PASSENGERS CAN NOW EXPERIENCE AND JOIN THE UNIVERSITY LIFE IN THEIR WAY TO THEIR FACULTY.