The building of the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) is a university facility conceived as a bioclimatic system. Its polycarbonate envelope functions as a greenhouse that regulates temperature, while its concrete structure takes advantage of thermal inertia. Instead of conventional mechanical systems, the building employs interior courtyards that act as lungs, allowing natural ventilation that reduces energy consumption. Reversible wooden modules and experimental gardens on the roof complete an environmentally active architectural system.
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The building functions as a large collector: it stores rainwater in underground tanks for reuse in the interior vegetation and on the roof.
On a sunny winter day, you will see it closed, capturing heat. In summer, its envelope opens to allow natural ventilation.
