Unprecedented success of Catalan architects at La Biennale di Venezia

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Unprecedented success of Catalan architects at La Biennale di Venezia

Imatge:

This year's Biennale is a clear sign that Catalan architecture is triumphing abroad. More than thirty Catalan firms are present at Venice's 15th Mostra Internazionale di Architettura, either showing their work as part of the 'Unfinished' exhibition in the Spanish Pavilion (where 40% of the architecture firms are Catalan), or taking part in the exhibition 'Aftermath_Architecture beyond architects', representing Catalonia at the Eventi Collaterali.

Moreover, this year the Golden Lion for the best national pavilion has been awarded to Spain, thus distinguishing the group of 55 emerging architects, 23 of which are Catalan, and highlighting their creativity and commitment to transcending the limitations of the economic crisis

Without a doubt, the Jury's decision will have been particularly influenced by the experience of Catalan architects in the task of rehabilitating and transforming cities. To all this, we should add that the Biennale's director, the Chilean Alejandro Aravena (winner of the last Pritzker Architecture Prize), selected four Catalan practices for the Biennale's International Architecture Exhibition, ‘Reporting from the Front’: Enric Batlle and Joan Roig; Eduardo Cadaval and Clara Solà-Morales; Fabrizio Barozzi and Alberto Veiga; and Toni Gironès.

Meanwhile, the project ’Aftermath_Architecture beyond architects’, curated by Catalan architects Jaume Prat and Jelena Prokopljević along with filmmaker Isaki Lacuesta, highlights seven public architectural interventions chosen as examples of architecture that improves the relationship between users and their surroundings. The Catalan project has generated considerable interest and critical acclaim and is one of the 30 projects recommended by the Wallpaper magazine.

The COAC would like to congratulate all the Catalan architects taking part for the recognition they have achieved as a result of their professional efforts. At the same time, it wishes to highlight how contemporary Catalan architecture has managed to deal with this far-reaching crisis by exploring new ways of meeting society's needs. Venice has welcomed them as leaders in their field precisely because of this demonstration of sensibility and skill. There is, however, still some way to go: our business network and sector have been so devastated that decisive government support is still needed.

Projects and Catalan participants

International exhibition 'Reporting from the front':

· Batlle i Roig Arquitectes (Enric Batlle i Joan Roig).
· Barozzi / Veiga (Fabrizio Barozzi i Alberto Veiga).
· Cadaval & Solà-Morales (Eduardo Cadaval i Clara Solà-Morales)
· Toni Gironès

Spanish pavilion 'Unfinished':

· RE-EDIFICATORIA. Adrià Goula.
· RESTAURACIÓ DE L’ANTIGA ESGLÉSIA DE CORBERA D’EBRE.
Ferran Vizoso, Núria Bordas, Jordi Garriga, David Garcia.
· ESPAI BARBERÍ (Olot). RCR Arquitectes.
· DIPÒSIT DEL REI MARTÍ (Barcelona). Archikubik
(Marc Chalamanch, Miquel Lacasta, Carmen Santana -
Enllaç arquitectònic Arc-Roig).
· OLIVA ARTÉS (Barcelona). Jordi Badia (BAAS).
· CASA COLLAGE (Girona). Bosch Capdeferro Arquitectures
(Elisabet Capdeferro i Ramon Bosch).
· CENTRE CULTURAL CASAL BALAGUER (Palma de Mallorca).
Flores & Prats + Duch-Pizá.
· CINEMA LIDIA (Riudecols). Núria Salvadó i David Tapias.
· CASA LUZ (Cáceres). Arquitectura-G (Jonathan Arnabat,
Jordi Ayala-Bril, Aitor Fuentes, Igor Urdampilleta).
· ESPAI NOU A CASA NOVA (Lloret de Mar). Extudio
(Toni Gelabert i Néstor Montenegro).
· CASA DINS D’UNA CASA (Sant Cugat del Vallès). Josep Ferrando
· REFORMA I ADEQUACIÓ DE VIVENDA-ESTUDI (Barcelona).
Maio (Guillermo López i Anna Puigjaner)
· ESTUDI AL CARRER LACY (Sabadell). Sauquet Arquitectes i
Associats
· CASA OE (Alforja, Tarragona). Fake Industries Architectural
Agonism (Cristina Goberna, Urtzi Grau) + Aixopluc (David Tapias)
· PUNT D’INFORMACIÓ DE GLÒRIES (Barcelona). Peris+Toral
Arquitectes (Marta Peris, José Manuel Toral i Izaskun González)
· PAVELLÓ DE VIVENDA EXISTENT (Barcelona).
Flexo Arquitectura (Aixa del Rey, Tomeu Ramis i Bárbara Vich).
· SEU DE LA DENOMINACIÓ D’ORIGEN RIBERA DEL DUERO
(Burgos). Barozzi / Veiga (Fabrizio Barozzi i Alberto Veiga).
· HOUSE 1014 HARQUITECTES (Granollers). David Lorente,
Josep Ricart, Xavier Ros, Roger Tudó.
· NOU ACCÉS AL CENTRE HISTÒRIC DE GIRONELLA.
Carles Enrich Arquitectura + Urbanismo.
· CAN JORDI I N ́ÀFRICA (Montuïri, Mallorca). TEd’A Arquitectes
(Jaume Mayol, Irene Pérez).
· CASA A GAÜSES (Vilopriu, Girona). Anna & Eugeni Bach.
· HÀBITAT MAGATZEM. Ferran Grau Valldosera, Nicola Regusci,
Xavier Bustos Serrat.
· 80 HABITATGES A SALOU. Toni Gironès.
· 57 HABITATGES AL CAMPUS DE L’ETSAV
(Sant Cugat del Vallès). DATAAE + H arquitectes.
· ENTORN DEL MERCAT DEL BORN (Barcelona). Vora Arquitectura
(Pere Buil i Toni Riba).
· ARRANJAMENT DELS CIMS DEL TURÓ DE LA ROVIRA
(Barcelona). Jansana, de la Villa, de Paauw arquitectes, AAUP
Jordi Romero i Associats.

Catalan project 'Aftermath':

· RECUPERACIÓ MEDIAMBIENTAL DELS MARGES DEL RIU
LLOBREGAT. Batlle i Roig Arquitectes (Enric Batlle i Joan Roig).
· HOSPITAL TRANSFRONTERER DE LA CERDANYA (Puigcerdà).
Brullet-Pineda Arquitectes (Manuel Brullet, Alfonso de Luna i
Albert de Pineda).
· TORRE JÚLIA, HABITATGES TUTELATS PER A GENT GRAN
(Barcelona). Pau Vidal, Sergi Pons i Ricard Galiana.
· TEATRE ATLÀNTIDA (Vic). Josep Llinàs, Josep Llobet,
Pedro Ayesta i Laia Vives.
· APARCAMENT SAINT-ROCH (Montpellier). Archikubik
(Marc Chalamanch, Miquel Lacasta i Carmen Santana).
· CENTRE DE DISTRIBUCIÓ D'ALIMENTS CAMPCLAR (Tarragona).
Nua Arquitectures (Maria Rius, Arnau Tiñena i Ferran Tiñena).
· CAN BATLLÓ (Barcelona). LaCol Cooperativa d’Arquitectes.

Also, the installation features two further special collaborations: the Vora Arquitectura firm (Pere Buil and Toni Riba), which was commissioned to design the ‘Taulacreu’ table; and architect Josep Ferrando, who designed the ‘Biennale’ chair.

Finally, it should also be noted that Catalan architect Jordi Pimàs was one of the curators of the French Pavilion.

30/05/2016

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