Satellyzing Hammarö

TEAM DATA

Team Representative: Carlos Soria Sánchez (ES) – architect; Associates: Laura Fernández García (ES), Irene Vitorica Donezar (ES), Ana Rosa Soria Sánchez (ES) – architects

Avda. Doctor Federico Rubio y Galí, 31 3A, 28039 Madrid – España
+34 63 680 26 15 – correodecarlossoria@gmail.com

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^{C. Soria Sánchez, I. Vitorica Donezar, A. R. Soria Sánchez and L Fernández García}

INTERVIEW

1. How did you form the team for the competition?

We know each other since we started Architecture at the Technical School of Architecture of Madrid and have been friends ever since. We had also worked together during our degree and due to our great connection and similar vision of Architecture, we thought that participating together to Europan was a perfect experience and opportunity for us.

2. How do you define the main issue of your project, insisting on how you answered on this session main topic: adaptability and urban rhythms?

Our proposal responds to the aim of adapting the preexisting buildings and natural environment to the site by a unique architectural sensitive gesture, identifying three different systems to act on in order to better understand the site essence: nature, architecture and infrastructure systems. The project is carried out by punctual and concise actions that act effectively to improve the actual situation of the site, but always under this global proposal.

3. How did this issue and the questions raised by the site mutation meet?

The answers to the problems found in the systems aim at achieving the following objectives: preservation of the natural system, reactivation of the architectural system and connection of the infrastructure system. The elements of the systems we are going to take part in are our planets – so the satellites could be the interventions performed on these planets, producing changes on them and revitalizing the zone and the natural resources. Therefore, this world of planets and satellites (systems and actions) helps us meet our proposal with the main problem of the site.

4. Have you already treated this issue previously and could you present some reference projects that inspired yours?

It is not the first time that we have treated the adaptability issue, although the problems arising are always different. The idea of adding new programmatic units to the preeexisting might be influenced by Peter Cook’s “Plug-in City” concepts, but obviously we are not talking about a direct or visual connection. Our inspiration comes from the profound analysis made. The general scheme of planets and satellites (as bodies that orbit other bodies and produce changes on them) is the key to our proposal.

5. Today –within the era of an economic crisis and sustainability– the urban-architectural project should reconsider its production method in time; how did you integrate this issue in your project?

We believe that our project treats this topic with sensitivity thanks to its flexible and adaptable nature. The idea of producing different plug-in units all along the site involves both sustainable and economic concerns. The concept of acupuncturing the zone also allows a long-term realization of the proposal.

6. Is it the first time you have been awarded a prize at Europan? How could this help you in your professional career?

It is actually the first time and in fact, we are proud to say that we have also been awarded a First Prize for the Urretxu-Irimo site in Spain, so our happiness is double. It is, without a doubt, a great recognition of our work that we receive even more proudly in the situation of our profession. We hope it will help us as young architects to reach the professional opportunities we are looking for, through publications, sharing our ideas and the recognition of our work.