Fourth-year Architecture students presented their final degree projects (TFG) on 12 and 13 July at the Architects’ Association of Catalonia (COAC) headquarters. With the title “Extended Limits: Diagonal’s Journey from Cityscape to Green Escape,” the projects took on the current challenge of renovating areas with a potential for high centrality existing in the large European cities, under criteria of social equity, sustainability, accessibility and health.

The Architecture TFGs were organised by lecturers and architects Iñaki Baquero and Álvaro Cuéllar. During the exhibition and presentation day at the COAC headquarters, a multidisciplinary jury chaired by prestigious architect Carme Pinos evaluated the future architects.

Urban challenges facing the metropolitan area of Barcelona

The intention of these exercises is to contribute, with an innovative look, to today’s challenges facing architecture and urbanism, and try to complement the considerations set forth in Barcelona’s Metropolitan Urban Master Plan (PDUM): the strategic plan that seeks to guide and manage urban and territorial development in the metropolitan area of Barcelona.

“The project is part of the current Metropolitan Area of Barcelona development plans, which began eight years ago. They focus on transforming a section initially designed for cars into a new urban avenue more suitable for people that integrates local mobility and new uses,” Iñaki Baquero explained.

Álvaro Cuéllar pointed out that “the 24 projects aim to restore a longitudinal and transversal connection along the five-kilometre area. On the one hand, they introduce side lanes for local traffic, bike lanes and a public transportation platform. On the other hand, they improve the continuity of the perpendicular streets that connect the different municipalities crossed by La Diagonal Avenue.”

Baquero and Cuéllar conclude that “this transformation of public space reconnects green spaces, promotes multipurpose uses and seeks to rebalance the way the metropolis works.”

Presentation of the ROCKWOOL Sustainability Awards, the Schindler España Accessibility Awards, and the Daikin – Schneider Electric Installations Awards

As part of the final degree project (TFG) presentations, the ROCKWOOL Sustainability Awards, the Schindler España Accessibility Awards, and the Daikin – Schneider Electric Installations Awards were presented. These awards recognize the projects that from their conception, consistently provide the best solutions in the areas of sustainability and accessibility.

The ROCKWOOL Sustainability Award winner was Agustín Ardisana Witenas, for his project “Industry Z.” Second prize was awarded to Martina Musacchio for her project “Forestry and Environmental Training Center”

Members of the jury were Alessio Battistella, architect at the ARCo - Architettura e Cooperazione studio and lecturer at Politecnico di Milano; Jordi Guivernau, UIC Barcelona architect alumni and Technical Department member at ROCKWOOL; Teresa Batlle, architect at the Picharchitects/Pich-Aguilera studio, and Mauro Manca, architect and founding partner at Energreen Design and lecturer at UIC Barcelona.

The jury emphasised that these projects integrate decarbonization in every phase, from the construction of the building and throughout the entire life cycle.

The 2023 Schindler Architecture Awards for Accessibility gave first prize to UIC Barcelona Architecture student Agustín Ardisana Witenas for his TFG project “Industry Z.”  Second prize was awarded to Daniel Villacís Jaramillo for his performing arts centre project “Fábrica de Creación Az Arte” [Az Art Creation Factory]. Third prize winner was Andrés Salas Siles, with the proposal “Juvenile Care Center.”

The Schindler Awards for Accessibility are awarded to the TFGs in Architecture that best integrate overall accessibility in a coherent way and from their conception.

The Schindler España Architecture Award for Mobility/Accessibility jury was made up by Xavier Jiménez, regional director for Schindler in Catalonia; the teachers responsible for TFGs of the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture, Iñaki Baquero and Álvaro Cuéllar, and the lecturer over for the Accessibility Area of the TFGs, Enrique Rovira-Beleta.

The jury evaluated whether projects addressed accessibility from a global standpoint and went beyond the regulations, taking into account people with every kind of disability.

Agustín Ardisana Witenas was also winner of the Daikin – Schneider Electric Installations Award for his TFG “Industry Z” project. This award values the project’s integration of the facilities from the technical aspects such as reservation of spaces, architectural integration, as well as the sustainability associated with the facilities.

The jury was formed by Joan Espluga i Ardèvol, director of Daikin in Catalonia and Andorra; Núria Benedicto Bertolín, coordinator for Daikin Prescription Department in Catalonia and Andorra; Xavier Barnils Castany, head of Iberia Engineering at Schneider Electric; Eva Sallés Manzano, head of Prescription at BMS Mediterranean area at Schneider Electric, and UIC Barcelona architects and lecturers Ainara Bilbao Villa and Xavi Martínez i Tomeo.