Spanish Architecture takes over Manhattan!

The Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism (BEAU) is being shown in the United States for the first time for an exhibition at The Cooper Union, before traveling to France, Germany, Japan and Sweden. The XIII BEAU, entitled Alternativas / Alternatives, is on view from October 27 through December 3, 2016 and features 22 jury selected projects completed between January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2015 by contemporary Spanish architects.

The exhibition, which also includes an additional 20 shortlisted works, features large-scale image displays and audiovisual commentary about the winning projects, as well as drawing reproductions and architectural models.

Many of the works presented, under the categories of Heritage, Planning and Innovation, employ sustainable practices and rely on local materials. The projects - which vary from small-scale works, such as residential homes, to mid-size interventions, such as schools and public parks - showcase the ability of Spain's architects to formulate innovative solutions with both a limited budget and modest resources.

“The economic crisis was a critical time for our country's architecture and we saw a halt in new construction but enormous growth for restoration work,” says Francisco Mangado, Spain's General Coordinator of Biennals, who oversaw the curation of Alternativas / Alternatives and is a practicing architect. “Our goal of bringing the Biennial to The Cooper Union and eventually these other countries is to make Spanish architecture - with its humble yet sensitive forms and ingenious design - open to the world.”

ETSA Granada - Arch. Victor Lopez Cotelo - Photo LLuis Casals

Viviendas en Pamplona - Photo Pedro Pegenaute

The XIII BEAU's selection showcases a breadth of talent from across Spain, not just its biggest cities. It also highlights some of the country's practices on the rise. In addition to projects by studios such as Arquitectura-G and H Arquitectes, much of the work included in Alternativas / Alternatives represents Spain's up-and-coming architects and studios such as Abalo Alonso Arquitectos, Victor López Cotelo, Olalquiaga Arquitectos and more. A complete list can be found here.

“The current generation of Spanish architects is full of optimism for the discipline and although recent austerity and frugality has affected the work, every project has become an opportunity for creative architecture,” says Begoña Díaz-Urgorri, BEAU Co-Director.

In addition, Juan Domingo Santos and Carmen Moreno Alvarez, architects and also Co-Directors of the XIII BEAU, say “we highlight the presence of a young generation of architects who stand out with interesting proposals, for which the crisis is not a problem but an incentive and encouragement to provide qualified responses that improve our places of life.”

And that creativity is being noticed internationally. Recently the Spanish Pavilion won the Golden Lion Prize at the 2016 Venice Biennale, the highest honor given at the Biennale. Seventy percent of that award-winning exhibition will be on view as part of Alternativas / Alternatives at The Cooper Union.

Casa Chao - Arch. creusecarrasco - Photo Hector Santos Diez

Industria Montajes Electricos - Arch. Jose M. Sanchez Garcia - Photo Roland Halbe

“Contemporary Spanish architecture's significance cannot be ignored, and this exhibition brings together several critical qualities of its discipline that converge on the Iberian Peninsula,” says Nader Tehrani, Dean of Cooper's The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture. “Coming from a pedagogical context that is much more restrained than that of the United States and an economy that has yet to recover, it is important for American audiences to have an opportunity to see the work of this next generation since it demonstrates how great inventiveness emerges from a sense of scarcity and significant constraints, but in combination with a disciplined and ambitious imagination.”

The XIII BEAU originally opened in July 2016 at the Palace of Charles V of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain before traveling to New York City. The exhibition was curated by BEAU Co-Directors and jury members Begoña Díaz-Urgorri, Juan Domingo Santos and Carmen Moreno Álvarez, and overseen by Francisco Mangado, Spain's General Coordinator of Biennales.

This exhibition is presented in association with Archtober, Architecture and Design Month New York City, October, 2016.

VPO in Vallecas - Arch. Olalquiaga Arquitectos - Photo Miguel de Guzman

Masia Can Calau - Arch. Montserrat Nogues i Teixidor Arquitectos - Photo Marc Torra

WHAT:

EXHIBITION
Alternativas / Alternatives

PANEL DISCUSSIONS
In conjunction with this exhibition, please join our distinguished scholars in a lively conversation about Spanish architecture.

Presented by The Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism and The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture of The Cooper Union.

WHEN:

Opening Reception Thursday, October 27 at 6:30pm Arthur A. Houghton Jr. Gallery

Ongoing Exhibition
October 27 - December 3, 2016
Tuesday - Friday 2pm-7pm, Saturday and Sunday 12pm-7pm

Panel
Saturday, November 12, 2016 from 10am-5pm

WHERE:

Exhibition:
The Cooper Union, Arthur A. Houghton Jr. Gallery, 2nd Floor 7 East 7th Street, between Third and Fourth Avenues New York, NY 10003

November 12 Panel:
The Cooper Union, 3rd Floor Lobby 7 East 7th Street, between Third and Fourth Avenues New York, NY 10003

COST:
Free and open to the pub

Escuela de Vela Sotogrande - Arch. Hector Fernandez Elorza y Carlos Garcia Fernandez - Photo Montse Zamorano

1014 House - Arch. H Arquitectes - Photo Adria Goula

Source: BEAU

Top image: Caminito del rey - Arch. Luis Machuca Santa Cruz - Photo Juan M. Alvarez Espada