RELEASE: The projects of UIC Barcelona Architecture students extend the Diagonal to the Llobregat

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The Final Degree Projects (TFG) have been presented at the headquarters of the College of Architects of Catalonia (COAC) on July 12 and 13.

More than twenty proposals provide solutions to transform the extension of Avenida Diagonal into a sustainable pedestrian space and backbone of the territory of the Metropolitan Area of ​​Barcelona.

The projects face the challenges of the large metropolitan areas of the 21st century and are linked to the objectives of the Barcelona Metropolitan Urban Master Plan, currently being drafted.

Barcelona, ​​July 14, 2023.- From river to river. The students of the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture have presented 24 projects with proposals to transform the B-23, the extension of Avenida Diagonal to the river Llobregat. The objective is to redesign this infrastructure and its surroundings to turn it into a green corridor, friendly for pedestrians and with new uses, which in turn connects the municipalities of the area transversally: Barcelona, ​​Esplugues de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Joan Despi and Sant Feliu de Llobregat.

The Final Degree Projects (TFG) of the students in their last year of Architecture have been presented on July 12 and 13 at the headquarters of the College of Architects of Catalonia (COAC). Under the title "Extended Limits: Diagonal's Journey from Cityscape to Green Escape", the projects respond to the current challenge of renovating areas with a high potential for centrality, existing in large European cities, under criteria of social equity, sustainability, accessibility and health.

The Architecture TFGs have been coordinated by professors and architects Iñaki Baquero and Álvaro Cuéllar. During the exhibition and presentation day at the COAC headquarters, a multidisciplinary jury chaired by the prestigious architect Carme Pinós examined the future architects.

Urban challenges of the metropolitan area of ​​Barcelona.

The exercises seek to contribute, with an innovative look, to the challenges of architecture and urbanism today, and try to complement the reflections contained in the Barcelona Metropolitan Urban Master Plan (PDUM), the strategic plan that seeks to guide and manage urban development and territorial in the metropolitan region of Barcelona.

"The project is part of the current development plans for the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, which began eight years ago. They focus on transforming a section initially designed for cars into a new urban avenue more suitable for human use, which integrates local mobility and new uses", explains Iñaki Baquero.

Álvaro Cuéllar points out that "along a surface area of ​​five kilometres, the 24 projects aim to re-establish both a longitudinal and transversal connection. On the one hand, they introduce side lanes for local traffic, bicycle lanes and a public transport platform On the other hand, they improve the continuity of the perpendicular streets that connect the different municipalities crossed by the Diagonal".

Baquero and Cuéllar conclude that "this transformation of public space reconnects green spaces, promotes multipurpose uses and seeks to rebalance the function of the metropolis."

ROCKWOOL Sustainability Awards; Schindler Spain Awards for Accessibility, and Daikin - Schneider Electric Awards for Installations.

Within the framework of the presentation of the TFG, the ROCKWOOL Sustainability Awards have been awarded; the Schindler Spain Awards for Accessibility, and the Daikin - Schneider Electric Facilities Awards. These awards recognize the works that provide the best solutions in these areas, consistently and from the conception of the project.

The winner of the ROCKWOOL Sustainability Awards has been the student Agustín Ardisana Witenas for the "Industry Z" project. The second prize has been received by Martina Musacchio for the project "Forestry and Environmetal Training Center".

The jury was made up of Alessio Battistella, architect from the ARCò - Architettura e Cooperazione studio and professor at the Milan Polytechnic; Jordi Guivernau, architect from UIC Barcelona and member of the ROCKWOOL Technical Department; Teresa Batlle, architect from the Picharchitects/Pich-Aguilera studio, and Mauro Manca, professor at UIC Barcelona, ​​professor at UIC Barcelona and founding architect of Energreen Design.

The jury highlighted that the set of projects integrates decarbonization in all its phases, from the construction of the building to its entire life cycle.

The 2023 Schindler Architecture Awards for Accessibility have also recognized the "Industry Z" project, by UIC Barcelona Architecture student Agustín Ardisana Witenas, with first prize. The second prize has been awarded to Daniel Villacís Jaramillo for his performing arts center project "Fábrica de Creación Az Arte". The winner of the third prize has been Andrés Salas Siles, with the proposal "Juvenile Care Center".

The Schindler Accessibility Awards are given to those Architecture Final Degree Projects (TFG) that best integrate accessibility understood globally, coherently and from its conception.

The jury for the Schindler Spain Awards for Architecture on Mobility/Accessibility is made up of Xavier Jiménez, Regional Director of Schindler in Catalonia; the professors responsible for Projects-TFG at the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture, Iñaki Baquero and Ávaro Cuellar, and the professor responsible for the Accessibility Area of ​​the TFG, Enrique Rovira-Beleta.

The jury has valued that the projects address accessibility from a global point of view and beyond the regulations, taking into account people with any type of disability.

Agustín Ardisana Witenas, with his "Industry Z" project, has also been declared the winner of the Daikin - Schneider Electric TFG Installation Award. This award values ​​the integration of the facilities in the project, both from the technical aspects, such as the reservation of spaces, the architectural integration, and the sustainability associated with the facilities.

The jury was formed by Joan Espluga and Ardèvol, director of Daikin in Catalonia and Andorra; Nuria Benedicto Bertolín, coordinator of Daikin's Prescription department in Catalonia and Andorra; Xavier Barnils Castany, head of Iberia Engineering at Schneider Electric; Eva Sallés Manzano, responsible for BMS Prescription in the Mediterranean area of ​​Schneider Electric; and the architects and professors of UIC Barcelona Ainara Bilbao Villa and Xavi Martínez i Tomeo.

Communication UIC Barcelona School of Architecture.

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Sobre UIC Barcelona School of Architecture.

UIC Barcelona School of Architecture is an architecture school committed to the intellectual, professional and personal growth of its members. A teaching model that is based on personalized attention, practical learning based on the integration of all areas of knowledge, cutting-edge technology and a teaching staff with international experience. UIC Barcelona School of Architecture trains architects capable of facing the challenges of society.