Ágora-Bogotá Event Centre
200best ES
estudio Herreros
Bermúdez Arquitectos
2017
Type
Convention Centre
Tags
new ways of work, spaces of encounter, contemporary agoras, climatic machines, 200Best
Visitability
Allowed
Description
Located on a site of almost 2 hectares in the geographical heart of the city of Bogotá, halfway between the historic center (3km) and the international airport (8km), AGORA BOGOTA establishes a key piece of the city´s fair and exhibition complex, Corferias. The project settles in a dynamic urban area undergoing a process of consolidation and regeneration, characterized by deficit of well-defined public space. In order to liberate as much public space as possible, the project opts for verticality. With 5 main floors above ground level and 2 basement decks, the building occupies an 81x81mt square in plan and reaches up to 49 mt high.Of the 64.883 m2 of built area, 33.722 m2 are situated underground and dedicated to parking areas (1.055 cars), technical and maintenance rooms, storage areas and loading docks, as well as a fully equipped kitchen with a production capacity of 2.500 meals. The remaining 31.161 m2, above street level, accommodate all of the public program, with meeting rooms and lobbies for conventions up to 2.500 assistants, or several smaller events simultaneously. It also contains all of the directly related service areas: restrooms, kitchen satellites and furniture storages. The main hall on the upper fifth floor has a capacity of hosting singular events of up to 4.000 people, for concerts, conferences or any other event that falls out of the usual convention type.The public spaces around the building specifically respond to each of the distinct urban conditions, aiming to complement the preexisting deficiencies and to enrich the area as a whole. To the north, the public square parallel to the Avenida de la Esperanza marks the main access to the building, but also articulates the encounter of the convention center (Ágora Bogotá), the fairground (Corferias) and the city. The west strip alongside the Carrera 40 proposes a dense green area, serving as a place of contemplation and informal encounter. The south side, towards Corferias´ main parking building, organizes all vehicular flows: passenger drop-off, bus platform and accesses to the underground public parking and the loading dock. Finally, the east side plaza functions as a generous esplanade where open air events related to the convention center and the fairground can take place. (Description provided by Bermúdez Arquitectos)