The iconic New Bauhaus building is being built in Seville: zero emissions, pergolas, and photovoltaic panels for the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.

The imposing site on Cartuja Island is filled with weeds, oleanders, a few trees, and small vestiges of what was once the Universal Exposition held in Seville in 1992. On this surface stood the Pavilion of Discoveries , one of the star venues of Expo '92, which burned down two months before the exhibition's opening. That was a blow to the entire city. But tragedy inspired ingenuity. The charred building was covered with an art installation that included giant chimney sweeps and colorful staircases. From a burned-out venue to a work of art. At least, on its façade.

The new headquarters of the European Commission 's Joint Research Centre ( JRC) will now rise from the ashes of that failed pavilion 33 years ago. It will house more than 400 researchers from around the world, including economists, environmental engineers, and data and social scientists. All of these experts are already in Seville. They work right across the street from the site where the new headquarters will be built. The JRC was established in the city in 1994.

No sign on the perimeter of the site, located in a privileged enclave on the island of La Cartuja, just a few meters from the Guadalquivir River , announces that work will soon begin. But this Monday, the first stone will be laid with great pomp. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen , is expected to attend, along with several ministers, the President of the Andalusian Regional Government, Juanma Moreno , and the architect who designed the project, the Dutchman Bjarke Ingels .

The building that will house the Joint Research Centre aspires to become an icon of the New European Bauhaus promoted by the European Commission itself, under the principles of "sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics." Interestingly, even at Expo '92, there were some very innovative projects, from the perspective of environmental sustainability, that fell into oblivion. Experts believe that this happened very prematurely. However, now, sustainable architecture occupies a central priority for all administrations.

A building that "doesn't harm the planet"

The new headquarters of the Joint Research Centre will be pioneering and a world reference for many reasons. It is a building that "works without harming the planet," as the architects and engineers involved in the project often commented in meetings. Its energy rating is "zero emissions." No other building of this size in the world has this certification, according to sources close to the project told EL MUNDO. And it will be so because it consumes very little energy and, at the same time, generates more than double the amount it needs from the photovoltaic panels installed on top of the pergolas. The surplus energy is planned to be injected into the city's electrical grid.

Inspired by Seville's surroundings and traditional architecture, the project proposes covering the building with a dome composed of photovoltaic pergolas that provide shade to a plaza, a garden, and the building itself. The lightweight, square-shaped pergolas rest on columns, which gradually increase in height to create a large, shaded outdoor space open to the public. To achieve this goal, the entire complex forms a kind of pyramid, carefully designed by engineers and architects .

"The photovoltaic panels are quite advanced and blend in with the surroundings. They are so cutting-edge that energy is captured even on cloudy days, and they only stop working at night," explains Manuel González , from the Seville-based engineering firm Grupo Argenia , a member of the consortium responsible for the project, along with the Bjarke Ingels architectural studio and the Malaga-based firm Arquitectos HCP .

José Malavé , also from the Argenia Group, emphasizes that this is an "experimental, innovative" project with the utmost respect for the environment. During its design, they used highly advanced software with simulators that calculated how the photovoltaic panel roof would respond in a city like Seville, with temperatures above 40 degrees in summer and around zero degrees in winter.

Limestone and ceramics

The design prioritizes the use of locally sourced materials , such as limestone, wood, and ceramics. Inside, there will be a meeting area and social spaces on the ground floor, while offices and research units will occupy the upper floors. The proposed layout is designed to be flexible and adaptable to future needs. Outside, the vegetation is also native . Perhaps the oleanders and trees currently on the site will be preserved.

José Luis Moreno , of HCP Architects, emphasizes the good coordination and understanding between the professionals from the different companies involved in the project, which combines international firms, such as the Danish architect's studio, which has offices around the world, and local engineering and architecture societies.

On his studio's website , Bjarke Ingels says that with the design for the Joint Research Center in Seville, "more than anything, we have sought to ensure that the building's sustainable performance drives an architectural aesthetic that not only makes the property function better, but also makes it more livable and beautiful," thus ushering in a " new Andalusian environmental vernacular " in architecture. The countdown begins this Monday.