Escatrón Town Hall / Magén Arquitectos on the main façade, forming the most representative elements as

hollow in the continuity of the façade plane.

Given the special significance of the plot in the urban

structure, the initial aim of the project was the configuration of
the urban area of the square, through a new façade that highlights
its institutional presence, and organizing the itineraries and inner
public spaces as an extension of urban space. The organization of
the floor plans places the administrative spaces on the site edges,
and circulation spaces in the central area. It responds to the
interest in establishing spatial and visual links between the
square, the inside public spaces and the open courtyard,as shown
in the cross section of the project. The square, the courtyard and
the circulation and meeting spaces, become the core of the
project.

The administrative program is distributed in three raised

Architects: Magén Arquitectos
Location: Plaza de España, 1, 50790 Escatrón, Zaragoza, Spain
Architect in Charge: Jaime Magén, Francisco Javier Magén
Area: 1113.0 sqm
Collaborators: Beatriz Olona, María Tejel, José Luis Sánchez
Velázquez, José Sainz, Rafael González
Contractor: MLN Mariano López Navarro (1ª fase); Construcciones
Sílex SL (2ª fase)
floors and a basement floor to the municipal archive. The different
uses are stratified by levels, according to their public or restricted
character. The spaces for citizen services are located on the
ground floor. The first floor is occupied by the Mayor office –
behind the balcony – and the municipal secretary, as well as the
Assembly Hall. An outer stair directly connects the Hall to the back
courtyard, allowing the use of both spaces –hall and courtyard- on
certain occasions (celebrations, civil weddings, conferences,
projections…) independently of the rest of the building. Finally,
meeting rooms and spaces for political groups are located on the
third floor.

From the architect. The initial considerations about the

project of a new Town Hall in the historical town center revolves
around two opposite conditions: the integration of the new
building in the urban fabric versus the singularity demanded by its
representative condition.
The response of the project is articulated around three
related mechanisms: the abstract composition, the scale and
singularity of the hollows, and the use of the void as a space
generator. The void actions operate at three levels. On the first
level, in the urban plot, creating a new courtyard of activities,
open in a dense historical city center. On the second level, inside
the building, through vertical voids and visual and spatial
connections that amplify the inner space. And on the third level,
NORD Architects Wins Contract for New Furesø City will also be implemented. A focus on the indoor micro-climate and
Hall energy optimization will give employees control of their
surroundings.

"The project creates an optimal cohesion and accessibility

between the existing building and the new extension. The building
is designed with multiple purpose square meters and spaces – to
serve both traditional city hall functions and citizen-oriented
activities outside office hours," said Rasmus Rodam, project
manager at NORD Architects.

Architects: NORD Architects

Location: Stiager 2, 3500 Værløse, Denmark
Design Team: NORD Architects
Contractors: Anker Hansen & CO, Søren Jensen Advisory
Engineers
Area: 5600.0 sqm

Following a turnkey competition, NORD Architects was

awarded the contract for their design of the new Furesø City Hall
in Denmark. The project, consisting of 2,000 square meters of
renovation and 3,400 square meters of new space, is set to finish
by 2017 and will house 300 employees. Driven by sustainable and
democratic design, the new city hall is estimated to reduce annual
operating costs by 8 million DKK for the Furesø government. Read
more about this upcoming project after the break.

“Our hope is that Furesø City Hall will be a model for the future of
democratic institutions and provide a framework for
collaborations and new alliances between government, citizens
and business. Therefore, the team has designed a building that
enters into a dialogue with its surroundings and its users. We are
grateful for the opportunity to work with such an important
project and we look forward to future cooperation with all our
excellent collaborators to realize the construction,” said Johannes
Molander Pedersen, partner in NORD Architects.

The new city hall will incorporate a building loop into the existing
framework of the old city hall, creating new outdoor areas for
citizens of Furesø. Seating niches will be integrated into the
façade, relating to the surrounding neighbourhoods. Sustainable
elements such as solar cells, planted facades, natural ventilation,
rainwater recycling systems and local drainage of surface water