The same Italian design firm that designed a fleet of eco-schools for Gaza has won an international competition to design the headquarters of Algeria’s telecommunications firm ARPT (Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Télécommunications).
Mario Cucinella Architects combined tradition and modernity in his striking design of the ARPT Headquarters that is slated for construction along a busy highway in the Algerian capital.
Also located next to a new urban park, Bab Ezzouar, the building is designed to act as a new landmark for the city, a symbol of its growth ambitions.
The aerodynamic shape culminates in something of a pointed arch regularly found in Mediterranean architecture, except Cucinella pushed the northern side out in a convex shape to force fierce desert winds to roll off the building’s back.
He then sunk the southern side in a concave that captures the nighttime breeze.
By using bioclimatic design to cool the interior naturally, Cucinella reduces the program’s energy load since less air conditioning will be required to maintain a comfortable interior environment.
Based in Bologna, Mario Cucinella Architects has a history of building green buildings and we’re thrilled he is brining his much needed expertise to North Africa and the Middle East.
Having made a study of cooling techniques employed by the ancient people who lived in the desert regions, the Italian designer brings a sense of Islamic identity to his modern new structures.
We interviewed Mario shortly after plans for a green school in Gaza were announced, a pending UNRWA (The United Nations Relief and Works Agency) project designed to provide a safe and resilient learning environment for children of Palestine refugees.
“To be able to apply our knowledge and skills in a completely different region and see that it is really helpful is really inspiring,” Mario said about the challenges of his work in Gaza.
:: Bustler
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
