Category: Civic | Award: 2nd Price

Ecópolis Plaza is conceived as a source of learning for citizens, educating on energy saving and optimization of natural resources. The project integrates ecology in everyday life, without turning it into an exceptional phenomenon more akin to a theme park or museum. In this project, the architecture is challenged beyond formal experimentation, to transform a vacant lot in the outskirts of Madrid into a space for social interaction.
Ecópolis Plaza brings together on the same site a kindergarten, a ludic space for kids, and a public space. The solution combines passive energy saving systems together with active systems, providing the highest eco-label (A grade) of Spanish law.
In addition all the waste water from the building is naturally purified by a macrophyte lagoon incorporated in the public space. This recycled water is stored under the ground within a gravel tank and then used for all the irrigation needs of the garden. This artificial landscape emulates a natural riverbank. The surrounding topography creates an enclosure and buffer area protecting the building and users from the aggressive industrial environment. Ecópolis Plaza has received several awards among which is a Best Practice from the United Nations Habitat program.

Location: Madrid, Spain
Total Cost: 2.700.000 €
Plot Area: 3000 m² (building) + 7.500 m² (public space)
Total Plot Area: 10.500 m²

ECOSISTEMA URBANO:
Belinda Tato | Jose Luis Vallejo | Michael Moradiellos | Domenico di Siena | Jaime Eizaguirre | Luisa Zancada | Ion Cuervas-Mons | Benjamín Castro | Masatoshi Oka | Johannes Kettler | Javier de Paz | Julia Casado | Álvaro Ferrer | Emilio García | Andrea Franceschi | Ioannes Busca | Pau Munar | Ignacio Cabezas

www.ecosistemaurbano.org