De Vaca Negra

TEAM DATA

Team Representative: Ana Rosa Soria Sánchez (ES) – architect
Associates: Leticia Martínez Velasco (ES), Carlos Soria Sánchez (ES) – architects

36 rue des Boulets, 75011 Paris (FR) 
+33 761 896 475 – soria.anarosa@gmail.com

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^{A.R. Soria Sánchez, L. Martínez Velasco & C. Soria Sánchez}  

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

We know each other from the School of Architecture of Madrid. Beside our collaboration in different architectural offices in Paris and Madrid, we have been working together in several international competitions.

2. How do you define the main issue of your project, and how did you answer on this session main topic: the place of productive activities within the city?

With our proposal we tried to claim the social value of the 20th century industry and its relationship with the city. Not long ago, the death of the industry was proclaimed, an activity considered as noisy and polluting, segregated from urban centers. However, today we are more and more looking for the return of industry as an alternative to those villages that have been traditionally industrials. This explains the growing trend of many companies to relocate their activity within the cities.

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

The production system is changing towards a new model in which the traditional industrial factory is transformed into a chain of global value. The industry that comes back is not the same as it was. Torrelavega could host productive activities that act as a bridge between traditional and new industry. The idea is to create a meeting point for the economic activity and also the link to put the region in contact with abroad business opportunities. Our proposal suggests the inclusion of a new industry in the center of Torrelavega. This new industry changes the traditional relation between the city and its citizens, breaking the old physic and psychological barrier.

4. Have you treated this issue previously? What were the reference projects that inspired yours?

Yes, we have participated in other competitions that face similar challenges. In fact, our winning proposal in Europan 12 in Urretxu, Guipúzcoa, developed very similar strategies working on the reconversion of industrial areas. There are also a lot of fantastic projects sharing the same topic. However, this time, we have tried to go a little further and start a deeper reflection on the possibility of coexistence of the industry and the city centers.

5. Urban-architectural projects like the ones in Europan can only be implemented together with the actors through a negotiated process and in time. How did you consider this issue in your project?

The Project proposes an urban renovation creating a diverse and balanced environment where productive spaces are meant to coexist with others like housing, public equipments and green areas. That means that we are considering our proposal as a project of social renewal that needs to put in relationship the enterprises that already work in the area with entrepeneurials, young professionals, the neighbours and the municipality of Torrelavega.

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

In the previous editions we were awarded with a special mention (Streefkerk in the Netherlands, Europan 13) and with a first prize (Urretxo-Irimo in Spain, Europan 12) and a runner-up prize (Hammaro in Sweden, Europan 12). Although we started some studies with the municipality of Urretxu, the project finally stopped. Nevertheless, we are convinced that Europan is a great platform for young architects.