Following the completion of its Google headquarters, the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has unveiled plans for a new culinary centre in San Sebastian, Spain. The building will house start-ups, researchers and chefs. As 'icing on the cake', the building will have a large green covered roof where visitors can walk or enjoy the view.
Covering 9,090 m², the Gastronomic Open Ecosystem will be characterised on the outside by gently sloping terraces and an accessible roof. Also notable are the large areas of glass to maximise daylighting inside. The park on the roof life constitutes an invitation to engage with the art and science of gastronomy.
The building will house laboratories dedicated to the development of new alternative proteins, agricultural robotics, food waste reduction and other food-related research.
Visitors will enter a central hall running from the ground floor to the roof, with stairs for access that will also serve as an amphitheatre for events and lectures. From here, visitors can view research in the laboratories and demonstration kitchens. Of course, if the appetite is whetted, visitors can also visit a restaurant on the top floor. Elsewhere are an auditorium, public terraces and office space.
It is not yet known when the building will be ready, but the project is currently underway. It was commissioned following an international architectural competition launched by the Basque Culinary Centre.
