Located in the Scientific-Technological Park of Almería (PITA in Spanish), to the northeast of the city, the new Financial Center of the Banco de Crédito Cooperativo-Grupo Cajamar is the result of a competition, celebrated in 2019, which proposed the construction of a building that could bring together the central services of the institution, which were scattered in different places. The winning project proposes a scheme which makes the most of the site’s virtues while solving its problems.

The office program is organized in a series of prisms arranged in a comb shape, which permits introducing light and views between them, so that from any given point of the complex one can enjoy the sight of the horizon and the sea. The lobby is conceived as a meeting space between the different arms. Within this space, the same facades onto the sea are deployed, but turned inward, favoring the dialogue between interior and exterior, work and rest, private and public.

The fragmentation of the space and the arrangement of the volumes in different directions creates a strong contrast between the singularity of the pieces and the unity of the complex, giving the building a bold and recognizable image.

The proposal is based on constructive rigor and efficiency, starting from a simple geometry that tries to rationalize the construction and make the most of natural resources. The use of prefabricated elements has allowed reducing costs and executive phases, aside from guaranteeing a sustainable construction.

The building includes external sun protection mechanisms with aluminum slats that adapt to the different orientations to protect the interior spaces from direct sunlight. Besides, a high-performance floor-to-ceiling glass facade, with blinds, allows maximum use of natural light inside. In the building’s perimeter, prefabricated concrete cantilevers protect from sunlight and generate outdoor workspaces, while the access areas are fit out with horizontal aluminum slats. The resulting complex offers a transparent image and generates a dynamic play of velvety colors during the day.

The design of solar protections is based on an exhaustive study of sunning conditions, acknowledging the importance of the sun in optimizing energy use and improving lighting conditions inside. The building has obtained LEED GOLD certification.