Estanyat

El Prat de Llobregat (ES) - Special Mention

TEAM DATA

Associates: Andrea Capilla Mónaco (ES), Carolina Capilla Mónaco (ES) – architects, Joan Martí Elias (ES) – architect urbanist

info@andrea-joan.com
www.andrea-joan.com

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TEAM PORTRAIT

VIDEO (by the team)

INTERVIEW
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1. How do you define the main issue of your project in relation with the theme “Living Cities Imagining architecture taking care of the milieus”? And in which way do you think your project can contribute to an ecological and/or social evolution?
The project aims to integrate subsurface dynamics as a key element to ensure ecosystemic balance. Through this statement, new perspectives arise to reformulate urban strategies and territorial-scale projects.

2. How did the issues of your design and the questions raised by the site mutation meet?
The origin of the proposal relies in a meticulous study of the site context, from a both physical and historical approach. The site is understood as a fragment of a wider ecosystem, the Lower Valley and the Delta of the Llobregat river, so its ecosystemic principles arise from this global-scale equilibrium statement.

PROJECT:

3. Have you treated these issues previously? What were the reference projects that inspired yours?
We have been studying how water cycle management can be used as a tool to explore new dimensions of urban projects, through a combined process of academic research and architectural practice. The main reference that unveiled the importance of the soil in this site was an historic document, the Geological and Topographical Map of the Barcelona Provincia, done by Jaume Almera (1891).

SITE:

Prat Nord, 1920. Source: El Prat d’abans (2011)

Delta agricultural landscape. Source: Xavi Perez

Irrigated fields and Delta infrastructure. Source: Xavi Perez

4. How can your project be implemented together with the actors through a negotiated process and in time. How did you consider this issue in your project?
The proposal framework relies on multiple metropolitan-scaled interventions, but the project is set on quite easy-to-follow principles regarding water infiltration and urban permeability. Understanding that the main assets such as the highway intervention and the consolidation of the Prat Nord district may take decades, the projected street sections and facilities’ concentration could be quickly applied.

REFERENCES:

Soft infrastructures. Source: Xavi Perez

5. How did you form the team for the competition and if so what are the skills you associated?
We have been working together for a while, participating in multiple competitions. Each of us plays a specific role, combining the importance of urban-scale ecosystemic dynamics and architectural design.

6. How could this prize help you in your professional career?
Receiving a special mention in this competition has undoubtedly been a great joy, and encourages us to continue working in this direction. Nevertheless, the chance to compare our proposal with the other awarded projects has been very revealing. We have learned a few lessons from them, which we hope will help us in the development of further competitions.

TEAM IDENTITY
Legal status:
Team name: andrea + joan arquitectes / Carolina Capilla
Average age of the associates: 31 years old

Has your team, together or separately, already conceived or implemented some projects and/or won any competition? if so, which ones?
We have received the following professional acknowledgements:
2023. Selected in the Mostra d’Arquitectura Catalana. Barcelona. 4th edition, with the work "Casa Estudi" in Sant Feliu de Llobregat.
2023. Selected in the XVI Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism with the work "Casa Estudi" in Sant Feliu de Llobregat.
2023. Winners of the AJAC XIII award in the Unbuilt Work category with the project "A quatre vents," a Building of 33 Affordable Housing Units in Polinyà.
2023. Winners of the AJAC XIII award in the Unbuilt Work category with the project "Bancals," a Set of Facilities in the Font de Baix sector, Begur.
2022. Selected in the FAD Awards 2022 in the Interior Design category with the work "Casa Estudio" in Sant Feliu de Llobregat.
2022. Selected in the VIII edition of Arquia Próxima with the work "Casa Estudio" in Sant Feliu de Llobregat.
2022. Cataloged in the VIII edition of Arquia Próxima with the work "Casa Taller" in Sants.
2021. Selected in the VI edition of the Mostres d’Arquitectura del Maresme with the work "Mirant a Mar," a renovation of a dwelling in St. Vicenç de Montalt.
2019. Selected in the FAD Awards 2022 in the Interior Design category with the work "Casa Taller" in Sants.
2018. Winners of the AJAC XI award in the Unbuilt Work category with the project "A Flor de Pell," an Integrated Care Center in Can Farreró, Barcelona.

We’ve won the following competitions:
2022 – Rehabilitation of Passatge Pons Social Housing units in Hospitalet de Llobregat (AMB)
2021 – Basic project for 8 Social Housing units in Sa Pobla, Mallorca (IBAVI)
2020 – 33 Social Housing units in Polinyà (INCASÒL)
2019 – Basic project for 6 Social Housing units in Puigpunyent, Mallorca (IBAVI)

WORKS: