Claudio Vilarinho: IBS

Designed by Cláudio Vilarinho, the Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability in Guimarães features a skin made of prefabricated elements of a cementitious matrix material.

Cláudio Vilarinho designed a building for the Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability in Guimarães, Portugal. Vilarinho proposed a project with a unique image for the campus. A building that breaks the existing gray monotony and that, at the same time, is able to captivate. Architect realised the skin of the building in prefabricated elements of a cementitious matrix material.

Reinforced with micro-fibers, this material has no conventional reinforcements, which could cause corrosion problems, among other features. It is a very ductile material, plastic, fluid, self-compatible and allows to control the crack and therefore doesn’t crack.

This skin allows the inclusion of pigmentation/oxides doesn’t need constant maintenance and lasts longer than common materials. To finish, it also allows a wide range of the architectural freedom.