Gen Building / Assadi + Pulido

Architects: Felipe Assadi + Francisca Pulido
Location: Santiago, Chile
Associate Architect: David Zapata
Collaborators: Trinidad Schonthaler, Heidy Ullrich, Macarena Avila
Client: Inmobiliaria Unco
Contractor: Waldemar Ullrich, Ruperto Neira
Engineering: Hoehmann Stagno S.A.
Site Area: 1,535 sqm
Project Area: 21,900 sqm
Project Year: 2009-2010
Photographs: Sergio Pirrone

Utilizing an urban renewal grant, Gen Building is an affordable housing residential complex located in the center of Santiago. Considering energy conservation and recycled materials the architects chose to design a façade that utilized discarded aluminum and zinc materials from industrial buildings.

sections

This 26-story apartment building has 285 apartments, a public first floor and roof level for entertainment, four floors of underground parking, three pools, and a private indoor plaza.
The eastern face of the main building volume features a metallic skin providing much needed shade on the roof and terraces, and noise reduction from Avenida Portugal.

About 120 solar panels are incorporated on the north facade of the building. The balconies and façade coordinate to make up the design element composition of the face.

The solar energy captured by these plates is used for heating and hot water, ensuring a savings of 100% in summer and about 70% in winter. Individual housing units have their own panel and manage its consumption independently.

1 floor plan

The new density that is achieved through this innovative use of materials creating two new skins, east and north (the visible faces the building) has created an interesting and recognizable city block as a single facade, rather than individual units.