Emilio Tuñón Alvarez (1959) and Luis M. Mansilla (1959), founders of the thinking cooperative CIRCO, are tenured professors of the department of architectural projects of Madrid School of Architecture and have been professors at Princeton University School of Architecture (2008-2010) and at Harvard Graduate School of Design (2006). They have been awarded the 2007 Mies van der Rohe Award, the 2003 Spanish National Architecture Award and the 2001 and 2007 FAD Awards.
Architect from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Doctor of Architecture and Professor of Architectural Projects at the ULPGC, visiting scholar at Harvard University, 2000, Guest Critic, at the ETH Zurich, Studio Basel, 2005. Main partner at nred arquitectos Coordinator of LIP(a) Architectural Projects Research Laboratory.
First Prize in: Ideas Contest for the Rehabilitation of the Literary Cabinet (1997), Contest for the Rehabilitation of the Town Halls of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Ministry of Development,1998-2002), Contest for the Public Square and Underground Parking of Venegas ( 2001) , Contest for the new Headquarters of the Judicial Bodies of Las Palmas (2004), Contest for the Waterfront of Puerto del Rosario (2005) and Contest for La Regenta Art Centre (2005). Third Matadero Madrid Contest Award, 2008. First Accésit in the Contest for the Architectural Renovation of the Antigua Tabakalera in Donostia-San Sebastian for its transformation into a Cultural Centre (2008).
He has published several critical texts, among which are the following books: 'Contextualismo y Abstracción, Interrelación entre Suelo, Paisaje y Arquitectura', ICAP and ULPGC 1995; 'La Casa del Marino, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1958-1964' Archivos de Arquitectura, España Siglo XX, Almeria Association of Architects, 2002; 'Arquitectura Moderna en Canarias, 1925-1965', COAC, 2002. And the magazine articles: 'Constructores de Ambientes' Quaderns, 220, Barcelona, 1997; 'Armazones', Transfer, 5, Madrid, 2003; 'Espacios sin Sombra' Arquitectura Madrid, 2003; 'Condiciones de Contorno', Arquitectura, Madrid, 2006.
Barcelona, 1997; 'Armazones' Transfer, 5, Madrid, 2003; 'Condiciones de Contorno', Arquitectura, Madrid, 2006.
Topic: '150%'
Problem
To reduce land consumption, new territory consumption without decreasing the growth in population to result in an increase in built area density. Usually this formula translates into an increased height of new buildings by replacing existing ones or, alternatively, by creating new expansion areas. But what about cities that are already built? Can we act on it under these premises without demolishing what was there before?
Recycling is giving new life to the old. Many low-density urban areas would strengthen or improve their condition by creating new housing spaces or increasing the surface area of existing housing with the aim of improving the social condition of their inhabitants. Areas of little use, empty, without the required density to generate urban life: Densely populated historic centres, landscaped urbanisations, low level expansions, public housing complexes...
The proposed general reflection is based on the application of this questioning to already built areas. Acting on existing buildings by making use of their roofs, suspending or thickening their facades and creating living spaces, building under the premise of areas with greater density and apply that to specific spaces in any city... superimpose; injecting new densities into urban areas: increasing their building densities by 150%, which is the proposed goal, without losing sight of the fact that the ultimate reason is recycling an existing city; saving on the consumption of new land. Understanding that an alternative to the environmental sustainability of soils is to reuse those which already exist more thoroughly. Kind of like what happens with sheets of paper. Better to use recycled materials on both sides rather than on just one side.
Location
A suitable location will be chosen in the home or host city. When selecting the location, it is important to analyse the current density conditions. Propose alternatives to superimpose new building densities. Improve the conditions of public areas. Create new meeting areas. Although the selected area may cover different environments: a plaza, a street, or the space between buildings... the end goal is to develop a specific expansion on a specific building. It would be interesting to convey the overall picture though a photomontage or drawings; but fundamentally, this is aimed at the development of a specific project on a specific building.
Some references to further specify the considerations.
In the sixties, Jean Louis Chaneac moved forward with his proposals for an insurrectional architecture based on a sense of rebellion against the bureaucratic machine, as well as on the promotion of the construction of 'pirate units' that, hanging from the facades of existing public housing complexes or settling as clandestine parasites on the roofs of these buildings, literally invaded their surfaces like an uncontrolled fungus. He named this proposal 'anarchitecture': a movement which promotes insurrection in favour of improving the living conditions of tenants due to the notable increase in their surface areas.
More recently, Lacaton and Vassal designed and carried out several actions on public housing complexes aimed at their refurbishment and expansion. A high percentage of houses in our cities is part of the housing complexes that were erected mainly between the Second World War and the eighties. Many of these housing complexes today do not meet the most adequate living conditions. Lacaton and Vassal's proposal seeks to improve their conditions by building rather thick structures.
Despite being focused on public housing complexes, this research on the simultaneous principles of transformation and increased density can be extrapolated (although to a lesser extent). It can also be applied to consolidated cities. To cite a recent example, this would be the case of the Roof-Top Urbanism proposal by the Chinese team Urbanus, in which they seek to build on top of existing buildings.
Proposal
These reflections are of general interest and constitute a path that should always be followed bearing in mind that the ultimate goal is to reduce land consumption, preserve the territory and, at the same time, recycle that which already exists.
With respect to the level of research and works, these should show the impact new densities would have on the existing building, while at the same time creating the proposed housing models in accordance with their construction and structural system, especially with regard to the interrelationship with existing structures (or the specific expansion system proposed). Whether using lightweight modules made of light materials, in line with some lightweight prefabrication, such as Werner Aisslinger's Loft Cube; or from existing elements on the market, such as containers or more comprehensive systems in which the structure itself serves as a support frame for the housing units.
This new domestic space, which is added to a pre-existing space, can be formulated as an expansion to the living spaces included in the buildings that serve as the base of the work; or as housing units designed for a young user, easier to imagine in transformative contexts aimed at recycling such as those to be achieved.
Only the Motto will be clearly indicated in all documents.
The Jury's decision will be final.
Proposals submitted by means other than the Internet or received after the call has been closed will not be accepted.
Submissions must be made individually. To ensure the anonymity of the participant before the jury, the files sent must omit personal data.
The Foundation reserves the right to reproduce and/or exhibit all or part of the proposals submitted to the contest.
