The Mies van der Rohe Foundation inaugurates today the exhibition "Spanish Architectures. Chronicle from Europe", a compilation of the best contemporary Spanish architecture that shows the more than 300 works built in Spain, or by Spanish architects in Europe, who have been nominated to the EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Awardduring their 30th years of history
The exhibition, curated by Ivan Blasi and Anna Sala Giralt, can be visited from September 7 to October 28 in the Exhibition Hall La Arquería de los Nuevos Ministerios in Madrid (Paseo de la Castellana, 67).
"This is an exhibition in which we can better understand the way in which Spanish territory has changed over the past 30 years from the seven winning works of the Prize chosen and put to debate by international juries. It is the first time that we can see so many high quality works together and, with a certain critical distance, begin to discuss contemporary Spanish architecture that has such prestige throughout the world.
While traveling to Madrid, I observed the landscape and the intervention of man in it, made with love and respect. These are some of the fundamental characteristics of all the works of the exhibition; rigor, quality, respect for the environment and search for improvement of living conditions. "
Ivan Blasi
The exhibition presents models, photos, videos and panels, an architectural tour through works analyzed and debated by international juries that have contributed to the recognition and dissemination of contemporary Spanish architecture, which has been considered worthy of the Award on 7 occasions ;
The first was in 1992 with the Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona de Bonell i Rius. They were followed in 2001 by the Kursaal in San Sebastián de Moneo and in 2007 by the MUSAC in León de Mansilla + Tuñon. In 2011, 2013 and 2015, the prize for the emergent architect went to the Casa Collage, Girona, of Bosch + Capdeferro, the Red Bull Music Academy / Nave de Música Matadero Madrid of Langarita + Navarro and the Casa Luz, Cilleros, de Arquitectura- G, respectively. In 2015, the Prize was awarded to the Szczecin Philharmonic in Poland, the work of the Barozzi / Veiga studio, established in Barcelona.
These architectures, built at different times in contemporary European history, have had an influence beyond the Spanish borders and have been linked to major events such as the Expos and the Olympic Games, the application of the structural and cohesion funds of the Union European Union and political decisions that help improve the quality of the territory.
"Great Events", "Urban Repairs", "Cultural Catalysts", "Interiors", "The Small", "Movements" and "The Absent", are the 7 chapters that suggest a grouping form in the exhibition from the 7 winning works (see diagrams and images below)
All these works are also accessible through the EUMiesAward App available for free for iOS and Android that allows you to locate the nominated works, access their information and place them on the map.
