A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Goes to Mauritius Clubhouse Amphitheater by Marcello Rodriguez Pons

The Work

Project

Mauritius Clubhouse Amphitheater

Function

Amphitheater

Category

Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Discipline

Spatial Design

Industry

Architecture

Colors

Light Blue, Gray, Pale Turquoise, Dark Slate Gray and Dark Olive Green

Images

5

Client

Rodriguez Pons Architects

The Recognition

Laureate

Marcello Rodriguez Pons

Country

Argentina

Recognition

A' Design Award

Edition

2024 - 2025

Design ID

#163916

Credits

Image Credits

All images copyright: Rodriguez Pons / Architects

Design Details

Unique Properties

The ring-shaped building around the open-air stream is strategically located in the central area of the masterplan, taking advantage of its topographic dell unevenness. What initially represented a weakness factor was used as an opportunity for the project. Thus, architecture is incorporated into the landscape with a half-buried building, where the visuals of the masterplan components are the protagonists. Its circular shape has become the distinctive element of the whole development, not only on a birds eye view, but also as the meeting point in the development.

Inspiration

The initial idea was to create two separate buildings which should allocate the golf course services in one of them, and an open-air cultural activities venue in the other one. After some discussions with the client a sudden circular pencil sketch on the paper linked both components, and the idea of the linking ring was simply there, in front of our eyes. Both components were at either side of the water stream and were then linked at the roof level with pedestrian bridges and terraces. At the bottom level, the club terraces have full access to the natural stream and pedestrian access.

Research

Once decided that the building would be ring shaped we started with the research and in depth study of similar projects, like The Gateway Museum in St Louis in the USA and the Stuttgart Citizen and Media Center in Germany. The designs were socially and sustainability wise welcomed and technologically easy to build. Our proposal had then to be adapted to preserve and enhance the same principles, thus providing the maximum functionality and flexibility for the XXI century requirements, all of it designed with rigorous rationality and adjusted to a viable budget and execution.

Challenge

The clubhouse had to combine requirements from local authorities and client needs which were on one hand a low visual impact construction, because of the privacy of the neighborhood, but on the other hand had to be symbolic. Thus, the circular building was conceived semi-buried and stands out with personality, allowing 360 grades views of the golf course, pools, playgrounds and the landscape. In this way, the upper terrace was stripped of architecture that could obstruct the visuals, while offering a cultural activities venue, and a place to be used as an area of contemplation and rest.

Realization and Technology

The design was conceived aiming at the well-being of people and respect for nature. The decision to half-bury the east looking architecture is a strategy to achieve thermal comfort, with the cooling coming from the ground. The west looking grass amphitheatre will provide seating comfort and a non-reflecting surface. Regarding the building materiality, its envelopes have been resolved with exposed white concrete and glass surfaces, constituting a distinctive image for the whole. Specially designed wood and metal urban furniture give the whole development its special character.

Operation and Interaction

The cornerstone of sustainable real estate is hinged on innovation through project finance and restructuring value-chain bureaucracy to strengthen development of future cities projects. The sustainable designed communities, buildings and objects created by Rodriguez Pons / Architects refines lifestyle choices. The goal is to design an ideal human scale neighborhood, 100 % ecologically oriented with technology in every corner, like plugin services transport for electrical vehicles (EV city), recycled materials and much nature as possible everywhere.

Project Duration and Location

The project is located in Abuja, Nigeria, in the Mauritius Real Estate quarters. Project design was done in 2020 and construction started in 2022. It is currently under the last phase of construction with full infrastructure concluded. Residential buildings are 90 % concluded too. Golf Clubhouse will start its construction mid 2025.

Specifications

Total land area 43.000m2, Built Up Area 231m2, Terraces 483m2, Amphitheatre 111m2, Bridges 182m2, Pool Area 120m2, Pool Facilities 43m2, Meeting Point 43m2 and a Land Occupation of only 8 percent.

Keywords

Ring, Round, Golf, Clubhouse, Amphitheater, Water, Residential, Abuja, Nigeria