“An innovative response to the challenge of activating peripheral territories” – Holcim Awards Jury
This project is commended for its innovative response to the challenge of activating peripheral territories through an approach that is both functionally generic - ie: allowing programmatic variety and flexibility - and architecturally specific. The work offers lessons in how to harness the untapped potential urban spaces and at the same time make a positive contribution to the local community.
Last updated: June 23, 2005 Zurich, Switzerland
Of significance is the project's public character that permits a wide range of uses to a diverse population of users. The project is economically self-sustaining because it generates "clean" energy that can be sold to large distributors at prices higher than normal (through special Spanish regulations).
Functioning as a feasible social attractor, the project has a positive impact on the street environment while also serving to call collective attention to environmental concerns. A successful integration of natural and artificial building materials is achieved, lending the work an aesthetically refined quality that provides a convincing contemporary expression into the context.