KMD GROUP COSTA RICA PROJECT PROFILE: EBI OFFICE (SHIPPING CONTAINER ARCHITECTURE)
Hello Everyone! Thanks for stopping by our blog! This week we are putting the spotlight on one of our projects in Costa Rica. Designed by our Architectural firm KMA Design Group in Costa Rica. The Ebi Office Project was done for the company EBI.
EBI is a waste management services company based out of Montreal, Canada. It’s Costa Rican branch employs over 350 people and this project serves as the head office for one of their locations in the country. Our design had to ensure that we were not only optimizing the architectural space but also their resources. With this in mind, we came up with the idea to create a building out of shipping containers.
Made of twelve recycled shipping containers, this project was an opportunity to showcase and reflect the values of Ebi (including caring about the environment, public health and creating awareness about all these issues). Six of the twelve containers were used to build up the three floating modules resulting in the structure having a dynamic appearance.
Architecture Team at KMA Design that worked on this project : Katia Marten, Diego Sanchez
Photography: Rodrigo Montoya
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V-shaped stilts were used to hoist the shipping containers up to a second level where they have been placed to have three different viewpoints. The landscapes that surround this project are characterized by scenic mountains and so we strategically placed floor to ceiling windows in areas that would give some of the best views to the natural scenery, offering employees a pleasant experience. Other window placements were prioritized based on factors such as whether or not the spaces required a more private feeling. Smaller windows were used in working areas as these allowed people to focus, while larger windows were used in communal spaces. On the second level, wrap-around clearstory windows let in light and offer views of the sky. All the windows play an important role when it comes to thermal comfort, as they allow for cross ventilation. In addition to this, they create a relationship between the outside and the inside.
Under the roofs, are panels made of upcycled plastic that look like wood. On the second level, a kitchenette has been included for the employees to take advantage of, and prepare their meals. Other features in this building include a dining area, medical office, water efficient toilet systems, shower area and recreational room. All elements that are quite beneficial considering the type of work that staff at EBI are involved in.
When it comes to the furnishings we have chosen wood furniture in order to bring a sense of warmth to the overall design. We have also included metal elements in keeping with the overall industrial look of the project.
In the interior of the office space, we kept the design very clean and efficient in order for the users of the space to be able to stay inspired and give their best as they work. In the exterior however, we chose to have an industrial type aesthetic, keeping the containers looking like containers, except for the framing of the entrances which utilize white durock.
Thanks for joining us on our very first blog post! This project is one of the largest shipping container office development projects in Costa Rica. The design reflects a clear example of the excellent teamwork that can happen between environmentally conscious clients and architects who also hold those values. The process of bringing the client’s vision to life has been eye opening, refreshing and quite fun for our team at KMA Design Group Inc. The results being, the implementation of the right use of elements and repurposed materials to create an innovative and efficient work space. Ebi is doing the great work of maintaining Costa Rica as a clean country and we at KMD Group and KMA Design Group are proud to play a part in their growth in Costa Rica.We hope you enjoyed looking through this project and we look forward to having you read our upcoming blog posts!
-KMD Group Team