Urban Biotope

DONNÉES DE L’ÉQUIPE

Représentant de l’équipe : Jaime Llorente Sanz (ES) – architecte

Av. de la Rioja 28 2ºD, 28691 Vvª de la Cañada, Madrid (ES)
+34620831197 - estudio@estudioperpendicular.com

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J. Llorente Sanz

INTERVIEW (en anglais)

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

It was easy, I had to agree with myself.

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?

The slogan summarizes the intention of the project, Urban Biotope. In biology a biotope is a geographical area that meets a series of environmental conditions to be able to be a life support. In this way the developed idea that an urban environment resembles the natural environment in terms of operation, that is, a serie of conditions have to be given to make it function as a support for urban life. It was thought about what characteristics an urban environment should have in order to be healthy, productive, effective and environmentally sustainable. In short, what conditions must an urban area have to become an Urban Biotope.

The logical consequence of the previous reflexion is to establish a series of essential environmental conditions for the development of an Urban Biotope. Thus, thirteen environmental conditions were established: (1) Mixture and density of primary uses; (2) Small squares, and mixture of old and new buildings; (3) Identity; (4) Diversity in mobility; (5) Circuits for sports and walking; (6) Biological connection of natural areas; (7) Complete streets; (8) Accumulate uses at the edges to sew the limits; (9) Universal accessibility; (10) Garden in motion to promote biodiversity; (11) Bioclimatic buildings; (12) Adaptable buildings; (13) Durable and reusable buildings. These concepts are not new and have been treated by different architects, urban planners and landscape designers such as Jane Jacobs, Transversal Landscape or Gilles Clément.

I have read and thought a lot about cities. It is clear that they need a change and, with this, I do not mean a new urban development, which I think they need, but to deal with the problems they already have, to improve the current city. It is necessary to detect, diagnose and solve the problems that cities have to make them more habitable, healthy, productive and that do not damage the planet. As for the references, I studied the winning projects of the previous edition (Europan 14). As the subject was the same I thought it was important to analyze what other colleagues had considered and proposed. Specifically there were three proposals that I thoroughly studied "Exposed City", "In Flow" and "Agora 4.0". I would also highlight four books "Death and life of the big cities", “Listen and transform the city "," The garden in motion "and" Manifesto of the third landscape ". As an extra bonus I would highlight the reports on circular economy in the construction sector of the CONAMA Foundation.

It is essential that changes are made gradually and with the participation of the largest number of agents involved in the change and future users. In the memory of the proposal it was already anticipated that this process of negotiation over time is essential. As for the technical solution in the proposal, it raises highly adaptable and reusable buildings. That is to say, buildings are 100% flexible both when it is built and dismantled and throughout their life. They can be built, adapted or disassembled to be reused as much as the needs are negotiated.

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

Yes, it is the first time I receive an Europan award. As I have been a special mention, I think and hope it has a certain visibility impact.

IDENTITÉ DE L'ÉQUIPE

Office: …
Functions: Architecture, urbanism & landscaping
Average age of the associates: 39 years old

Has your team, together or separately, already conceived or implemented some projects and/or won any competition? If yes, which ones?

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