Award for the Cultural Center of Ibiza, Pesquera Ulargui Architects

The Congress and Exhibition Palace Cultural Centre of Ibiza, located in Santa Eulalia del Rio, and the work of architects and Agurruza Ulargui Jesus Eduardo González Pesquera, has been awarded with the XII National Architecture Awards, organized by IFEMA and the Federation of Stone Natural (FDP).
Inspired by the architecture of churches and courtyards of the houses Ibiza, this unique building is an evocation of the culture, diversity, tolerance and freedom of the people Pitiusan. The building has a cultural center that reflects the natural essence of the island. Results in a large space lit by natural light that capture several strategically placed skylights, two to the exhibition hall, one in the hall and another on the patio, which overlooks a panoramic view of the Mediterranean pine forest that surrounds the building.
The formal outcome of the project has a close relationship their environment. The Exhibition, which ended at the first stage, creates its own space, ranging from the first glance, to be divested of the Cultural Center which, in turn, is divided into multiple volumes, each for an activity.

This volumetric fragmented forest is open to expressing their uses dissolves in the shadow of the trees and subtly inserted in the ground, between walls and the thick vegetation that covers it. Three elements emerge from their cover and convey the rehearsal spaces and scene. A large square, around a courtyard, home to the rest of the program: classrooms, seminar spaces and the future cafe-restaurant.

The whole aims to recover the symbolic nature of the genuine popular Ibizan architecture, capable of building with “remnants” transformed. Thus, the exhibition hall designed by architects interior evidence is external, the natural light is present throughout the building, including scenic backdrop in some cases, and has created an artificial topography that transforms the territory and establishing a route in the building, with a new horizon line into the woods and, though invisible, to the sea.

Precisely the location of the building, at the end of the bay and open to a native forest of pine, rectangular hand responds to the future audience, which maintains continuity with the urban design despite claiming a private garden. The party built now enters the pine forest, extending outward activities of the congresses.
With this award, prize money of 9,000 euros, is to recognize the work of contemporary practitioners who have made use of Spanish natural stone in buildings of all genres, in which the uniqueness, innovation, application techniques or aesthetics so certify. The jury was chaired by Antonio Lamela (Estudio Lamela) and composed by Sergio de Miguel (architect), Rafael de la Hoz (architect), Paloma Gómez Marín (OCAM Manager – COAM), Antonio Jimenez Torrecillas (Architecture Studio), Sol Madridejos (Sancho Madridejos), Gerardo Muñoz (Secretary General of the FDP), Iñigo Ortiz (Ortiz-León Arquitectos), Manuel Sanchez (Chairman of the FDP) and Montserrat Barbera (FDP).