Natura May - June 2013 | Page 75

natural vegetation in mind. The access to the ‘La Grajera’ is through a road that reaches to both edges of the site. This road ends at the west side of the site (the upper level) joining with the Production-Storage Unit partially placed underground in front of the tower with offices and administration zones and the open, courtyard space which is the main visitors area and pedestrian zone. The reason why the Production-Storage Unit is placed partially under the ground level is to minimize the impact on the existing topography and to meet the unit’s functional needs for temperature control. The half way buried underground production facility with its planted roof is perceived as a part of the topography through its position that allows to a certain degree natural ventilation through the underground space but minimizes the effect of high v