The lecturer and full professor of UIC Barcelona School of Architecture Vicenç Sarrablo has been included in the finalist shortlist of the 15th Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism (BEAU) by the jury of the Research Showcase in the category “Product”, for his patent titled “Rehabilitación de fachadas mediante panel industrializado de cerámica y aglomerado de corcho” (‘Façade restoration using industrialised ceramic and agglomerated cork panels’). The proposal has been developed in collaboration with Rosa Gres, thanks to a grant from the Industrial Technological Development Centre, which is affiliated with Spain’s Ministry of Science and Innovation.
 
The patent is based on the development of a self-supporting and industrialised exterior thermal insulation system (SATE), aimed at restoring the façades of Spanish housing. This system bypasses the final rendering using mortar (continuous coating) typical of current models, and can be executed at greater speed. “Discontinuous coating has started to be introduced recently using tile cladding, which offers more advantages especially in terms of a prolonged life, better ageing of the finishes and its appearance”, said Vicenç Sarrablo.

"It is extraordinary that this patent has been included in the Biennial before the system has even been put on the market. Despite still being in the process of completing some laboratory tests, we have already received such welcome feedback from the jury of architects. We are delighted”, explained Vicenç Sarrablo.
 
Under the slogan “España vacía, España llena” (‘Spain empty, Spain full’), the 15th Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism aims to provide a space for reflection on the ability of architecture and urbanism to reconcile the two territorial realities that exist in the country; that of a dense, dynamic and populated Spain and that of a more sparce, static and uninhabited Spain that represents a country within a country. The winning projects will be announced on 2 July at the BEAU’s inauguration exhibition, which will take place in Valladolid.