The America’s Cup Building ‘Veles e Vents’ (Sails and Winds) and accompanying park were the social focal point for the 2007 America’s Cup – the most famous and prestigious regatta and match race in the sport of sailing. Staged in Europe for the first time in over 150 years, Veles e Vents was the centerpiece in the reorganization of Valencia’s industrial port.

The building was completed within 11 months and successfully opened in time for the preliminary regattas (e.g., the Luis Vuitton Cup), staged in May and June 2006. Veles e Vents provided a central base for all America’s Cup teams and sponsors, as well as being a venue for the public to view the racing.

The Building
– The 10,000 sq meters (107,000 sq ft), four-floor concrete building is composed of a series of stacked and shifting horizontal planes that provide shade and uninterrupted views extending out to sea
– Cantilevered floor slabs – the largest reaching out 15 meters (45 ft) – create the outdoor viewing decks that surround each floor
– 60 percent of the building is taken up by outdoor space.

The Floors
– The building’s ground floor acts as the reception area for the VIP facilities and has a canal-facing public restaurant and bar
– The first floor is entirely open to the public with retail facilities, a bar, and a generous viewing deck connecting directly to the park via a separate ramp
– The second and third floors house the VIP facilities – the ‘Foredeck Club’, a restaurant, a wellness centre and lounges for the America’s Cup Management, Louis Vuitton, and Consorcio Valencia 2007

Photographs courtesy of Duccio Malagamba

The Surroundings
– Veles e Vents connects directly to a new park, built above 15,000 sq meters (160,000 sq ft) of car parking
– A ‘tail’ of elevated public spectator decks stretches out from the building into the port, with bars, restaurants, and information points
– The decks overlook a newly excavated canal that links the port to the offshore racing courses
– To the north, a new 100,000 sq meters (1,070,000 sq ft) park links the city to the new seafront

Photographs courtesy of Duccio Malagamba

The Construction
– Veles e Vents utilizes a reduced palette of materials – white painted steel trims the edges of the concrete structure
– The ceiling is constructed of white metal panels incorporating linear recessed lighting, the external floors are solid Brazilian timber decking and the internal floors are white resin
– Simple, brightly colored furniture offsets the predominant whiteness of the structure, and distinguishes the different areas within the building

Key Data:
Client Consorcio – Valencia 2007
Construction – Started 2005
Location – Valencia, Spain
Completion – 2006
Building Footprint – 10,000m² (32,808 sq feet)
Construction Started – 2005

Key Players:
Architects and Designers – David Chipperfield Architects
Associate Architect – b720 Arquitectos
Structural Engineers – Building: Boma | Car park: Grupotec
Services Engineer – Grupotec
General Contractor – Ute Foredeck (Acciona, LIC, Rover Alcisa)
Lighting Consultants – Artec Luminotecnia
Landscape Consultants – Teresa Gali, Jordi Nebot

All details and information via David Chipperfield Architects

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