Disturbing, decorative and sustainable: the construction of a Mexican hospital that "eats" smog and attracts sunlight

The Dr. Manuel Gea González General Hospital, located in the south of Mexico City, is one of the most important in the center of the country and is distinguished from others by its a sustainable building, which "eats" smog and exploits natural energy. Its imposing structure is the only one in the country and there are only two similar ones in the world.

The company originally from London, but based in Berlin, Germany, "Elegant embellishments", was responsible for installing in the Specialty Tower of this medical unit the technology in 2011.

Your mission "is reconcile technology and the environment thanks to innovative construction products. "

With a disruptive and highly decorative design, the south-west facing facade has been designed by architects Allison Dring and Daniel Schwaag, who want to reduce emissions of pollutant particles equivalent to about 1,000 cars a day, thanks to its coated titanium dioxide prosolve370e.

This facade, according to the same company, "is a Decorative architectural module capable of effectively reducing air pollution in cities, when installed near traffic lanes or on the facades of buildings ".

"Elegant embellishments" explains that the facade is badembled by modules covered with ultrafine titanium dioxide (TiO2), which fights against pollution and activate daylightwhich neutralizes air pollutants caused by traffic.

The architect Antonio Medina explained in an interview with Infobae Mexico which was installed in the southwest orientation of the hospital for protect it from the sun, because it's the area where the sun's rays affect the most MexicoIt also works as a catalyst or filter that breaks down pollutants into simpler forms.

"Offers a more comfortable environment in this orientation to the hospital; by its color, it reflects very much the nature of the sun's rays and preserves a regulated environment; the openings allow enough natural light to enter the soil, it saves a lot of energy, "he said.

He added that "(pollutants) adhere to the modules, which limit the pbadage like a colander: one part remains attached and another remains in the environment. And the facade gets rid of it when it rains more decomposed. "

An efficient building with a "healthy and pure atmosphere"

The head of the maintenance area of ​​the general hospital, Dr. Manuel Gea González, indicated that Twenty years ago, they sought to expand their facilities with a sustainable building, as well as a clean and pure environment. But it is between 2011 and 2012 that the structure that eats smog has been put in place.

"The parts are the same since it was installed in 2012, you have to do preventive maintenance because every year when you have to wash and at 10 you have to redo the cover that is corrective maintenance, when the titanium plate is applied again, "said the building maintenance officer in good condition.

Angeles Health Services Group was the commissioner responsible for presenting the project's structure that "eats" the contamination south of Mexico.

The facade of 2,200 square meters was first mounted on a dressing room, in which they placed, in more than two months and with the help of three cranes, the hollow and modular pieces.

L & # 39; Company "Elegant embellishments" He was responsible for advising the team that placed the structure and its maintenance, which is expensive.

As the structure that "eats smog" from the Specialty Tower of the Dr. Manuel Gea González General Hospital, there are other similar projects in Australia and the United Arab Emirates.