Designed by Javier Peña Galiano and his architectural studio, XPIRAL Innovative Answers, in collaboration with the sustainable development agency ADN Urbano, led by Gerardo Sánchez Romero, the "La Elíptica" proposal received First Prize in the competition to build the central plaza of Murcia del Carmen station.

Integrating elements that connect the past, present, and future, the project transforms the former track and station areas into a coherent and vibrant new meeting space that connects Murcia's historic center with its southern neighborhoods and restores the Segura River's prominence.

The proposal by XPIRAL and ADN Urbano can be summarized as a large, elliptical pergola that protects from the sun and noise, organizes the space, and creates a pleasant landscape where vegetation, water, and light interact with technology, creating a welcoming microclimate.

Cultural spaces, shaded areas, and social areas transform the square into a new urban setting, full of life and activity, where travelers and residents share a dynamic and comfortable environment. A new urban heart, aligned with sustainability criteria, transforms a previously chaotic and disconnected space into a place to be, to meet, combining social cohesion with green and innovative activities.

"La Elíptica" by XPIRAL and ADN Urbano. Rendering by XPIRAL.

"La Elíptica" by XPIRAL and ADN Urbano. Rendering by XPIRAL.

Project description by XPIRAL and ADN Urbano

"La Elíptica" in 8 Concepts.
Thus, the key concepts of the project's strategy can be summarized in the following eight:

Balance, Icon, Hug, Green, Connection, Living, Life, Sustainability. (See on the boards).

"La Elíptica" by XPIRAL and ADN Urbano. Rendering by XPIRAL.
"La Elíptica" by XPIRAL and ADN Urbano. Rendering by XPIRAL.

Urban planning schemes.
The strategy is explained in the following schemes, which summarize the key elements and main decisions of the project:

Ellipse, Floors, Vegetation, Permeability, Thermography. (See on the boards).

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Architects
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XPIRAL innovative answers. Lead Architect.- Javier Peña Galiano. 
ADN Urbano
 

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Developer
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Murcia Alta Velocidad, S.A. (Ministerio de Fomento, el Gobierno de la Región de Murcia, el Ayuntamiento de Murcia y el Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias).

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Dates
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Announcement of winners.- March 2025.

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Location
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Murcia, Spain.

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Budget
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Base tender budget.- Є 564,087.00.

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Rendering
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XPIRAL innovative answers.

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XPIRAL innovative answers is an architecture office founded by Javier Peña Galiano (Murcia, 1966), architect by ETSAM in 1992 and professor at the IAAC Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia in Barcelona.

In addition, he has been a university professor and director of different workshops at universities such as MIT, IAAC, UIC-Esarq, the University of Alicante and the University of Alcalá de Henares. Continuing teaching at the University of Alicante for 12 years, undertaking research projects such as "YRBG Workshop, for the future of the End of Degree Project", in addition to being director of the aster in the Self-sufficient Buildings workshop and professor from the OTF research line.

Since 1997 he started the professional practice of XPIRAL innovative answers, exposing his work in important events such as the Vlll Venice Architecture Biennale 2002, the 'On Site' Spanish Architecture Exhibition held at the MoMA in New York 2006, the Spanish architecture exhibition Open Innovation held in Panama 2011 and the exhibition '100 architects of the year' in Seoul 2012.

And obtaining different awards where Europan 6 won and built, finalist in the FAD 2000 Awards, finalist in the SALONI Awards, first prize "Barrio de la Paz" in Murcia 2006, selected in the Mies Van der Rohe 2009 awards, finalist in ONE PRIZE of New York 2011, AIT Awards 2012 Public Space Awards and selected for his career at the Iakov Chernikhov Prize 2012.
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ADN Urbano is an innovation and sustainable urban development agency founded by Gerardo Sánchez Romero in 2021 in the city of Murcia. It is made up of a multidisciplinary network of professionals whose mission is to help transform cities and territories by promoting public leadership, citizen engagement, and the development of comprehensive projects.

The extensive network of experts, which includes professionals in urban planning, architecture and engineering, technological innovation, communication, law and economics, mediation, sociology, political science, cultural and artistic management, and gastronomy, among others, allows for the development of comprehensive projects, structuring small work teams that facilitate project innovation and management agility.

ADN Urbano was founded with the mission of improving cities and territories, making them more friendly, attractive, and accessible places, promoting public leadership, citizen engagement, and the development of comprehensive projects.

Gerardo Sánchez Romero, founder and director of ADN Urbano, holds a degree in Law and a diploma in Business Administration. He trained at IESE Business School, where he is currently enrolled in the Leadership for Public Management program. In 2020, he enrolled in the UOC's Master's in City and Urban Planning, specializing in Sustainable Cities and Territories. Over the last decade, he has held various positions of responsibility for public administrations, combining the creation and management of innovative projects with policy consulting and communications. During this time, as part of the team that has transformed the municipality of Murcia, she has coordinated the Murcia 2020 Strategy and promoted numerous projects such as Murcia Río, the ADN Urbano neighborhood revitalization projects in Santa Eulalia, El Carmen, and La Paz, the ADN Conecta projects, the La Mudanza art market, the Reactivos Culturales program, the cultural project for the Artillery Barracks, events to promote young talent Murcia se Mueve, the international street market Mixtura, and major events to reflect on the city such as Murcia en Futuro, conferences on the Murcia brand, and the annual citizen participation conferences.

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Published on: April 23, 2025
Cite: "XPIRAL + ADN Urbano won the Murcia del Carmen station square competition" METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/xpiral-adn-urbano-won-murcia-del-carmen-station-square-competition> ISSN 1139-6415
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