Bermudez Arquitectos – Police Station La Macarena

PROJECT: Bermudez Arquitectos – Police Station La Macarena

LOCATION: Bogota, Colombia

YEAR: 2015

ARCHITECT / FIRM: Bermudez Arquitectos

BUYER: National Police institution

SURFACE: 7.700 sqm

PRICE: € 6.415.000

DESCRIPTION:
The station, listed for it's cultural interest, is an example of the institutional buildings for the military and police forces done by the Ministry of Public Works during the first half of the 20th century. Enclosed between Carreras 4 and 5, and between Calles 29 and 30, it was initially designed by Rocha, Santander & Cia. in 1940, being the first police headquarters in the city . After a careful study of the urban, functional and architectural characteristics of the preexisting volume and it's surroundings, a pilot station was designed to accomodate new spaces while still holding it's historic and heritage value.

DESCRIPTION:
The original project was organized in two floor levels around a central courtyard, with an additional level for the main entrance wing. Throughout the years, this initial typology and architectural form have been preserved. In later times, additions were made on the south side, arranged around two secondary courtyards; mainly improvised constructions of inferior quality. After an exhaustive analysis it was concluded that only the original part was worth conserving and restoring. The project includes offices, accomodations for guests, social areas, different parking underground levels, among others.

DESCRIPTION:
The promoter of the refurbishment of the Police Station La Macarena was the National Police.

- SURFACE present EXTENSION,

PREVALENT REPLACEMENT / DISCONTINUITY: The overall dimensions are about three times the pre- existing surface.

- VOLUME present EXTENSION,

PREVALENT REPLACEMENT / DISCONTINUITY: The overall dimensions are about three times the pre- existing volume.

DESCRIPTION:
The original project was organized in two floor levels around a central courtyard, with an additional level for the main entrance wing. Throughout the years, this initial typology and architectural form have been preserved. In later times, additions were realized on the south side, arranged around two secondary courtyards; mainly improvised constructions of inferior quality. After an exhaustive analysis it was concluded that only the original part was worth conserving and restoring. The addition of various underground levels to accommodate all of the service vehicles, helped liberating the surrounding streets and public spaces; the demolition of the later, secondary structures to free up space for a public square and for the construction of a new building with the public affairs office.

DESCRIPTION:
The intervention comprises the integral restauration of the original building, with a complete reorganization of it's interior spaces to fulfill the needs of a contemporary police station; the addition of various underground levels to accommodate all of the service vehicles, liberating the surrounding streets and public spaces; the demolition of the later, secondary structures to free up space for a public square and for the construction of a new building with the public affairs office.

DESCRIPTION:
The structure of the former bulding was adapted to the new program. However, it's initial typology and architectural form was preserved. After an exhaustive analysis it was concluded that only the original part was worth conserving and restoring, different from a few additions that were made over the years. The new structure accomodates additional underground levels to free the block's public space from car parking.

DESCRIPTION:
The materials of the original project are preserved overall. The surrounding public spaces however was redesigned so that the project could fully integrate with the city; sidewalks of the urban block were reconstructed, using brick as a predominant material, existing trees were conserved and incorporated into the project .

DESCRIPTION:
The station, initially designed by Rocha, Santander & Cia, keeps it's overall image and typology. However the interior image is completely reorganized to create a set of flexible, light filled spaces. The careful study of the project's location made it possible, at the same time, to rebuild the sidewalks and transform the general aspect of the urban block where it is settled, existing trees were conserved and incorporated into the project, and the new access square on Calle 29 is integrated with the existing public spaces.