The lack of appropriate space for meetings and conferences between Congress members and constituent groups, mostly from medium to large in size, dominated the circumstances of this commission. The space assign for this project is an existing and scarcely visited library which is in the process of being digitalized, for reasons of efficient use of space, accessibility to information and digital era trends. The existing library occupies what used to be a courtyard space appropriated from this historical building during the 1980's. The existing library space added a new floor and erases any notion of the previous courtyard by filling all arch and wall openings, and establishing a new 2-story modern façade with ornaments mimicking the existing this historical Spanish Revival jewel.
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Our proposal eliminates the added floor creating a double height space and recuperates the original arched openings with balustrade railings at galleries and revealing original ornamentation whenever possible. A new glass curtain wall allows unobstructed views from and to existing exterior courtyard, also allowing natural light filtered from the existing ficus tree along with new skylights to enter the new waiting area. A new freestanding stairway allows connection to the second floor, increasing through traffic and thus a more lively space. Conference rooms are diverse in sizes and can be transformed into larger ones and/or training rooms thus allowing versatility for different uses. Austere in expression this intervention allows existing historical building elements to shine and coexist with new contemporary architectural components.
