Recent iconic buildings, Ep.6

America's Cup Building "Veles e Vents"

by David Chiperfield

Vents’ (Sails and Winds) and accompanying park were the social focal point for the 2007 America’s Cup – the world’s premier offshore racing competition, staged in Europe for the first time in over 150 years. The Louis Vuitton Cup started in April 2007 and the climax, the 32nd America’s Cup match, commenced at the end of June 2007.

  

‘Veles e Vents’ connects directly to a new park, built above 15,000 m2 (160,000 sq ft) of car parking. A ‘tail’ of elevated public spectator decks stretches out from the building into the port, with bars, restaurants, and information points.

Cantilevered floor slabs – the largest reaching out 15meters (45 ft) – create the outdoor viewing decks that surround each floor. 60 percent of the building is taken up by outdoor space. 

‘Veles e Vents’ utilizes a reduced palette of materials – white painted steel trims the edges of the concrete structure, the ceiling is constructed of white metal panels incorporating linear recessed lighting, the external floors are solid Brazilian timber decking, and the internal floors are white resin. Simple, brightly colored furniture offsets the predominant whiteness of the structure, and distinguishes the different areas within the building.

Location: Valencia, Spain
Competition Date: 2005
Completion Date: 2006
Gross Floor Area: 10,000 m2 Foredeck building,  15,000 m2 Parking, 100,000 m2 America’s Cup Park

Client: Consorcio Valencia 2007
Design Architect: David Chipperfield Architects: David Chipperfield, Marco de Battista, Mirja Giebler, Jochen Glemser, Regina Gruber, David Gutman, Melissa Johnston, Andrew Phillips
Associate Architect: b720 Arquitectos