Faculty of Architecture | Bloque C | Los Andes University

Bogotá | Colombia

Picture credit: Enrique Guzmán G.

Architects: Bermúdez Arquitectos

Year of construction: 2018
Currently used Internet address: https://arqdis.uniandes.edu.co

Author 1: Camila Pires (5066609)

Author 2: Marcela Papagayo (5065785)
DIA Architectural Theory I WS 21/22
FG Theory of Architecture V-Prof. Gernot Weckherlin
Hochschule Anhalt Dessau
Content

Abstract 02

Introduction 03

Faculty of Architecture, Los Andes University 04

Bloque C | Bermúdez Arquitectos 05

Floor Plans 08

Facilities 12

Bloque C | The Learning Experience 14

Integrative 16

Pedagogical 16

Flexibility 17

Organic 17

Conclusion 18

References 19

1
Abstract

This paper is a study of the Faculty of Architecture, Los Andes University in Bogota.
The new building that holds the Faculty of Architecture was assembled in 2009 designed by
Bermúdez Arquitectos especially to answer the needs and challenges experienced during
architectural studies.

The Architectural course of Los Andes University was chosen for this analysis
because of its independent character, with the purpose of training and educating a new
generation of high-capacity professionals with solid ethical commitment to society, the ability
to understand their surroundings and influence them with creativity and transforming vision.

More importantly, in this paper, the Bloque C architectural design will be critically
analyzed by its impacts on the learning process. The Research Methodology included
studying available literature and drawings sourced from the Bermúdez Arquitectos and
specialized architecture websites, besides the personnel input of students that attended the
campus itself.

2
Introduction

The University of Los Andes is located in the city of Bogota, the Capital of Colombia.
The University Campus is on top of a hill and has different buildings sharing a common park
connected by public open spaces. The studio responsible for the campus mainframe and the
building's design is Bermudez Arquitectos, based in Bogota.

This paper will explore the concept behind the Bloque C architectural project, that
was a “building that educates''. Daniel Bermudez has been teaching at Los Andes University
since 1975, so as an architectural professor, he leads the time in designing the new school
building, built in the year 2018, to hold one of the highly ranked Architecture Schools of
Colombia.

The building is in the heart of the campus where a natural slope shapes the way it fits
the ground. The geometry responds to its surroundings since it adapts to the pre-existing
conditions, with three individual buildings aligning to form a courtyard. The facades of the
building respond to the rational dialogue between structural modulation and architecture,
which can be observed from the interior and exterior.

As for the building's program, it contains classrooms for architecture and design
students and, to a lesser extent, for other students. It also contains offices for faculty
members, administrative offices, and student services. A large proportion of the building is
destined for circulation, to facilitate the transit of students with space to hold working stations
and meeting places.

3
Faculty of Architecture, Los Andes University

Universidad de los Andes is located next to the eastern hills of Bogota, Colombia. The
irregular terrain of the campus has a great diversity of buildings. Throughout 74 years of
history, the institution has been expanding by the acquisition and development of land
adjacent to the lot where it first began operating. Due to its location, near the center of the
city, the campus is made up of buildings with numerous typologies, proper of multiple uses
such as: a women's prison, a convent, a wheat mill, a paper mill, the sheds of a brewery and a
chapel; all of which have been repurposed to hold educational activities. Out of the 88 blocks
of the university, 39 are considered cultural interest and two are of national interest.

The faculty of Architecture and Design functioned for over 50 years in what once
functioned as a convent. Therefore, the faculty’s administration negotiated with the rectory's
office the construction of a building that would meet the spatial requirements of these
departments. The design of the new building, called "Bloque C" was in charge of the architect
Daniel Bermudez. Its construction began in 2015 and was completed by 2018.

As a theoretical framework for the building, a research project led by architect David
Delgado was carried out in 2010. It was called "Campus, characterization and
conceptualization of the physical floor plan" "whose objective was to determine the dynamics
of the campus of the Universidad de los Andes and develop - jointly with the departments of
Architecture and Design - the principles that should define the architecture of the campus to
promote meaningful experiences". This theoretical model consolidated 4 abstract conceptual
principles: pedagogical, flexible, organic and integrative. These will be discussed in detail
later in the paper.

4
Bloque C | Bermúdez Arquitectos

The seven-story building is located in the heart of the campus where, as mentioned
above, has a steep slope due to the natural conditions of the terrain. For such reason, the
building has thirteen earth retaining walls and fifty hand-built caissons. The dimension of the
caissons corresponds to the structural elements it receives. Round for columns and elliptical
for the screens. The structure is formed by a combined system of portal frames and reinforced
concrete walls. The floor system is unidirectional of 70 cm, formed by solid concrete slabs
with 10 cm electrowelded mesh supported on the beams.

Figure 01 - Bloque C. Picture credit: Enrique Guzmán G.

(https://www.archdaily.com/920532/school-of-architecture-universidad-de-los-andes-bermudez-arquit
ectos)

Likewise, the geometry of the building responds to its surroundings since it adapts to
the pre-existing conditions. Conditions such as an adobe heritage wall on the north side and
three circulation axes: one on the south, one on the east and one on the west side. The

5
building is made up of three bars and a fixed point of vertical circulation that form a central
courtyard. The building has staggered blocks of five, six and seven levels on its western,
northern and southern facades, respectively. Given the terrain, although the building has
seven levels, a maximum of five stories on the façade are visible from the ground level.

Figure 02 - Bloque C. Picture credit: Enrique Guzmán G.

(https://www.archdaily.com/920532/school-of-architecture-universidad-de-los-andes-bermudez-arquit
ectos)

The facades of the building, four exterior and four facing the interior courtyard,
respond to the rational dialogue between structural modulation and architecture. In this sense,
the north and south facades have a 5.5 m x 3.0 m modulation, while the main facade is
defined by 5.0 m x 3.0 m openings, framed by concrete beams and columns. The bays are
shaped by a secondary modulation of three pieces of acoustic fenestration. For example, on
the main façade these are 1.6m x 2.9m. It should be noted that louvers were installed on the
inside on the east and west side for light control.

6
 Figure 03 - Courtyard. Picture credit: Enrique Guzmán G.
(https://www.archdaily.com/920532/school-of-architecture-universidad-de-los-andes-bermudez-arquit
ectos)

As for the building's program, it contains classrooms for architecture and design
students and, to a lesser extent, for other students. It also contains offices for faculty
members, administrative offices, student services such as exhibition halls and computer labs.
Approximately 20% of the building is destined for circulation due to its location inside the
campus, it allows the transit of students from other careers since it connects different
buildings and open spaces of the University. Consequently, its architect states that 4 floors
may be considered as ground level, depending on the place where the building is accessed
from. Each of these floors has an access to a circulation with a different and pre-existing
topographic level that intersects at this point of the campus.

7
Floor Plans

Bloque C is located in the center of the campus and shares plazas with other
departments. Due to the natural site slope, Bloque C allows connections to the terrain at
different levels throughout the building. The priority is given to common spaces, as the
building is designed to value shared areas, such as the courtyard for example. Three buildings
lined up in a triangular shape with space for the inner courtyard. The interior of the building
uses windows as an enclosure which allows the interior of the buildings to have a visual
connection to each other through the central void space. The terrace has a north-south
position, for open-air urban planning classes.

Figure 04 and 05 - Situation Plan | Axonometric. Picture credit: https://vimeo.com/236986944

Ground Floor Plan - The café next to the staircase invites into the inner courtyard with
the large void used as the building entrance. The media labs, classrooms, and seminars share
the same access throughout the central courtyard. This is the intermediate level of the
building, given the natural slope in the site.

8
 Figure 06 - Ground Floor Plan. Picture credit: Bermúdez Arquitectos
(https://www.archdaily.com/920532/school-of-architecture-universidad-de-los-andes-bermudez-arquit
ectos)

Second Level Plan - Rooms and workshops are connected by the central void. The
circulation houses the study and work areas. The vertical circulation is located near the access
"bridge", easily taking the users from inside the building to the land level.

9
 Figure 07 - Second Level Plan. Picture credit: Bermúdez Arquitectos
(https://www.archdaily.com/920532/school-of-architecture-universidad-de-los-andes-bermudez-arquit
ectos)

Fourth Level Plan - Top floor. It has the characteristic circulation seen in the other
floors, with work areas. On this floor are the multi-use classrooms, workshops, and technical
rooms.

10
 Figure 08 - Fourth Level Plan. Picture credit: Bermúdez Arquitectos
(https://www.archdaily.com/920532/school-of-architecture-universidad-de-los-andes-bermudez-arquit
ectos)

Second Underground Level Plan - The circulation follows the pattern of housing work
areas, giving access to classrooms, seminars, and workshops. A more private circulation leads
to storage areas and restrooms.

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Facilities

The Architecture course has a historical building dedicated to the library, which has a
volume of more than 11,000 titles. The building intervention was awarded at the X
Panamerican Biennial of Architecture (1996) and in the XVII Bienal Colombiana de
Arquitectura (2000).

Figure 09 - Library. Picture credit: https://arqdis.uniandes.edu.co/espacios/biblioteca/

Another important historical intervention took place in Building S1, which holds
drawing studios and computer rooms. Volumetrically was designed to continue a building
listed as a heritage value and with the chosen materials and colors makes the whole
architectural complex have the same formal unity expression.

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 Figure 10 -Building S1. Picture credit: https://arqdis.uniandes.edu.co/espacios/s1/

There are studios and atelies dedicated to surface design, textile products, jewelry, 3D
printing, robotic workshop and other options offered for the architectural students in different
buildings located in the Campus, surrounding Bloque C.

13
Bloque C | The Learning Experience

Bloque C was a special request from the rectory, which aimed to build a new place to
hold the Architecture School and yet maintain the integration between the other buildings of
the university as well as the connections and paths existing in the site before its construction.
In addition, the idea was to provide students with a flexible space that improves the
pedagogical learning process involved in architecture disciplines. Students start their
graduation at the lowest level and as the course progresses, they also advance in level and
change floors, up to the highest level.

Figure 11 - Studios. Picture credit: Enrique Guzmán G.

(https://www.archdaily.com/920532/school-of-architecture-universidad-de-los-andes-bermudez-arquit
ectos)

There are two glass-wrapped elevators. As it is, all technical installations are visible
and it is easy to understand how the system works and is installed. The same occurs with the
structural elements, the rational coordinated apparent structure clearly defines the spaces. It is
possible to verify the trace of the forms used for the concrete in the construction process.

14
technical installations of water and energy play an important role in being visible since it is
possible to identify the connections and paths of each one and learn from them.

Three sliding glass doors are used to close and separate the classroom space from the
circulation, when necessary. As a result of structural modulation, each unit has a minimum
space for classrooms of 25 people (5,5m x 3m). The glass allows visual connection
interior-exterior, with the floor to ceiling windows.

Figure 12 - Circulation. Picture credit: Enrique Guzmán G.

(https://www.archdaily.com/920532/school-of-architecture-universidad-de-los-andes-bermudez-arquit
ectos)

The glass panels on the facade intensify the use of natural lighting. External metal
panels control the interior lighting when needed. The natural ventilation system brings
thermal comfort to the interior of the building, causing mechanical ventilation to be reduced,
requiring only an extraction system.

15
 The studio responsible for the project was Bermúdez Arquitectos, which also
designed other buildings for the institution that are also located on the campus. This specific
project is based on four principles previously mentioned: Pedagogical; Integrative;
Flexibility, and Organic. Daniel Bermúdez Samper has been a professor of architecture at
Universidad Los Andes since 1975. It is possible to recognize the professor behind the
project, as the result is a versatile building that connects people and spaces, with sophisticated
formal simplicity with much to teach students. Each of this concepts reflect on the spatial
configuration of the building:

Integrative

The construction takes into account the natural slope of the terrain, by projecting 2
more stories to the hill side. This gesture mitigates the visual impact Bloque C has over the
open space green area named San Alberto Magno, an iconic place of the University.
Additionally, the building is completely permeable space due to the fact that it provides
physical connections to existing squares and pathways though stairs and bridges.
Furthermore, the inner courtyard becomes a crucial point of social integration, given it
connects the northern part with the southern part, and the green open space area of San
Alberto Magno with the former location of the Faculty. With these gestures, the building and
the faculty students open up to the campus and integrate with other career students.

Pedagogical

There are two ways in which Bloque C succeeds in being a pedagogical building. In
the first instance, the technical aspect. The installations show and the structure is kept in
view, it maintains the modulation and texture given by the formwork during casting. Thanks
to this, it becomes an example and case study for those who study within it. Secondly, the
spaces for classrooms, workshops and exhibitions meet the needs of spatial configuration,
giving way to the third concept, flexibility.

16
Flexibility

More than classrooms, they are versatile work spaces that respond to the different
dynamics of the architectural teaching/learning practice. These multipurpose spaces approach
flexibility by providing a free and open space, when needed, and the possibility of dividing it
into smaller, more private workspaces. This is achieved with automatic dividing panels,
integrated into the building. Also, with the use of adaptable furniture.

Organic

Bloque C wanted to be organic by adapting to the pre-existence of the land and

cultural pre-existence. The preservation of the adobe wall is a lesson for students to value the
cultural and historical background of where a new building is implanted. Architect Bermudez
is not fond of the habitable rooftops on buildings, because of multiple waterproofing issues
that may occur. However, he considered the terrace to be essential, since it replaces the old
meeting and resting space of the architects in training. The space has similar characteristics:
an open area with a view of the city skyline. Bloque C tries to be respectful of the immaterial
aspects of the context and to set an example for the students.

17
Conclusion

Bloque C is a building with less than 5 years of construction, nevertheless with more
than 10 years of research, in order to offer its architectural students the best learning
experience. The premise “a building that teaches” is completed to a large extent. As shallow
as the eye meets, the core elements that compose the buildings are on sight: wires, ducts,
structure, modulation and transparency govern the view while remaining aesthetically
pleasant.

Furthermore, a deeper analysis reveals that there are also lessons to be learned beyond
what is found on plain sight. Respectful to its surroundings, Bloque C completely merges into
its landscape favoring the existent patterns of circulation and community congregation, by
offering spatial configurations on which both co-exist in the same area. For example, the
central courtyard which faces all the individual work spaces on the building corridor.

Translating a concept into an architectural reality is not easy. However, Bermudez

attempts to do so by being as pragmatic as possible. The right dimensions for spaces that hold
a determined number of students and teaches while respecting a modular and organized
structure. The flexibility offered by a modular structure and movable panels and furniture is
a design strategy that has succeeded on this building. Seminars and lectures can be held in the
same rooms as smaller study groups and studios.

The final appreciation is that Bloque C is an outstanding reference for architecture

schools, because there are lessons to be learned by architecture students by the building itself
and by the concepts, design strategies and spatial quality it achieves.

A shift of use on buildings is common, Andes University buildings are a clear

example of this. Bloque C accomplished its goal to enhance the architecture learning
experience and be a reference of design. Nevertheless, given the nature of its surroundings,
the possibility of changing its use as Architecture Faculty is plausible. In such scenario, it is
yet to be determined if the building will respond to other career learning activities.

18
References

Ana María Pinzón. (05/10/2012). 50 años Bienal Colombiana de Arquitectura (1962 - 2012):
https://web.archive.org/web/20160603030326/http://www.a57.org/articulos/cronica/B
ienal-Colombiana-de-Arquitectura-1962-2012

Bermudez Arquitectos. (n.d.). Facultad de Arquitectura (Uniandes):

http://www.bermudezarquitectos.com/proyecto-bloquec/

David Delgado Arquitectos. (n.d.). Campus Uniandes:

https://daviddelgadoarquitectos.com/projects/campus-uniandes/

Martita Vial della Maggiora. (04/08/2019). School of Architecture, Universidad de los Andes
/ Bermúdez Arquitectos:
https://www.archdaily.com/920532/school-of-architecture-universidad-de-los-andes-b
ermudez-arquitectos

Facultad Arquitectura y Diseño. (n.d.). Edificio II:

https://vimeo.com/236986944

Unknown. (n.d.). Biblioteca De Arquitectura Y Diseño:

https://arqdis.uniandes.edu.co/espacios/biblioteca/

Unknown. (n.d.). Bloque C:

https://arqdis.uniandes.edu.co/espacios/bloque-c/

Unknown. (n.d.). General Historia:

https://uniandes.edu.co/es/universidad/informacion-general/historia

Unknown. (n.d.). Plan de estudios:

https://arqdis.uniandes.edu.co/pregrado/informacion/plan-de-estudios-arq/

Unknown. (n.d.). S1 – Edificio Enrique Cavelier:

https://arqdis.uniandes.edu.co/espacios/s1/

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Declaration of academic integrity

Name of Author 1 Camila Pires

Matriculation | Nr 5066609

Name of Author 2 Marcela Papagayo

Matriculation | Nr 5065785

Date of Submission 10|02|2022

Course European Culture, Architectural History And Theory I

Professor Gernot Weckherlin

I hereby certify under oath that the paper I am submitting is entirely my own original work
except where otherwise indicated. This document is only for the purpose of the final
submission of the Architectural Theory class WS 21/22.

Camila Pires and Marcela Papagayo February 10, 2022

10|02|2022

Date Signature of Author 1 Signature of Author 2

20