UNESCO-UIA & MIDO Student Design Prize for Responsible Architecture

Responsible site election

Torre Baró is a poor neighbourhood located in the periphery of Barcelona, in a residual place packed between the back of the city’s hill and an sharp transport infrastructure strip. Hence, it is constructed on steep slopes and counts on
little connection points. However, although it belongs to a big urban system and consequently suffers from this in many ways, it still maintains its original rural character. The challenge is to find a formula that improves Torre Baró’s connectivity and ensures sustainable future growth. The proposal – edges, satellites and stations – consists on a multi-scalar intervention in terms of mobility, housing, facilities and preservation of natural resources, and keeps its focus on the reinforcement of Torre Baró’s identity:

Edges and satellites:
The first strategy is an intervention which tries to conjugate mobility and landscape throughout a system of bus stops located on a new circular bus line. Each of them establishes a relation with its near environment and the far landscape, thus creating a series of spots full of identity that enable its users to gain a sense of orientation.

Stations
The second strategy has to do with three variations on a self-sufficient prototype. Located on different levels –top, middle and low– they host different programmes: housing units, vocational school of agriculture and a sports and cultural centre. It is strongly believed that they can adapt and complete the pre-existences and will guarantee a sustainable development through living, education and interaction axis and create new connections to whole urban area.

Responsible energy exchange

The prototype consists on a multi-layer system based on the site’s vernacular architecture and its climate conditions. First, there is a core structure containing minimal living units with a thick insulated envelope. Then, there is a second and lighter perimeter structure. It consists on a scaffolding and provides an extra space, which is larger than the core units and is to be designed – shaped and defined – by its users. It can work as an exterior or as an intermediate space, and brings thermal advantages to the whole construction thanks to its passive energy performance.

Responsible growth

Torre Baró has been shaped by self-construction. This is reinterpreted considering the value of time as an element to catalyse projects. Hence, stations are not finished elements but open processes which can constantly change depending on its users needs and capacities. It is intended to ‘lay the foundations’ in a figurative and literal way: first topography is conquered by terracing the terrain; then, foundations and the core structure for minimal living units are created, and later, space can expand through a perimeter intervention.

Responsible reuse

Torre Baró has never been planned. Everything merges without hierarchy. However, there is one element which stays invisible but configures an exception in the urban tissue: an old aqueduct which used to supply Barcelona with water. Considering its historical importance, the third station is placed next to this monument to strengthen its present and future validity and symbolism as an urban catalyst for exchange and interaction.