Faculty of Business Studies of Mondragon University

The university required a space in which to impart regulated and continuous education, lodge the administration’s office, a library and the assembly room. The building meets all these requirements divided in four volumes. The first three volumes are destined to hold the educational and administration sections, and are formed with specific characteristics for the development of its activities; it is in contact with the ground and organized in such way that can function autonomously.

Nevertheless, the fourth volume is the one that best represents the building’s identity. The library, the assembly hall and the teaching staff’s offices are arranged in a lifted volume that allows having view-points on the trees that surround the building, capturing a general view of Oñati. This lifting creates a great porch entry to the building and at the same time a generous hall, constituting both of them the building’s main relational areas. Areas that, seen as public squares and watchtowers from which admire the scenery, will allow the connection between students and surrounding environment, acting the university not only as knowledge media, but also as a mediation support between local culture, natural landscape and university life.

Architects: Hoz Fontan Arquitectos – Angel de la Hoz, Pablo de la Hoz, Cristina Fontán
Location: Oñati, Spain
Collaborator: Marta Porroy
Executive project and construction management: LKS, Hoz Fontán Arquitectos
Photographs: José Hevia

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