Jordi Surroca

Sports Complex in Pallejà / JPAM + Masala Consultors

March 13, 2024

Architects: JPAM, Masala Consultors
Area: 4500 m²
Year: 2020
Manufacturers: Europerfil

What is Net-Zero Architecture? Terms and Design Strategies

March 02, 2022

As revolutionary as the construction sector may seem nowadays, it currently accounts for nearly 40% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, 11% of which are a result of manufacturing building materials such as steel, cement, and glass. Fast forward a couple of years later, after a life-changing global pandemic and indisputable evidences of climate change, CO2 emissions are still on a rise, reaching a historical maximum in 2020 according to the 2020 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction. Although a lot of progress has been made through technological advancements, design strategies and concepts, and construction processes, there is still a long way to go to reduce carbon emissions to a minimum or almost zero in the development of built environments.

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Design and Sustainability Are Indissociable: The Main Themes Explored in the EU Mies Award 2022

January 26, 2022

Stating that “design and sustainability are indissociable”, the 2022 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award, centered its nominations on social inclusion, sustainability and circularity, and aesthetic research. So far, 40 shortlisted projects are moving to the next level. The biennial contest that gives tribute to works completed within the previous two years in general, will announce the 5 finalist works in February 2022, and the winner in April 2022.

Focused on 3 main titles, "the European city: a model for the sustainable smart city", "defining common European culture while reflecting the diversity of expression" and "an architecture that has social impact and transmits a cultural message", we have grouped the selected projects, nominated by a jury formed by Tatiana Bilbao, Francesca Ferguson, Mia Hägg, Triin Ojari, Georg Pendl, Spiros Pengas and Marcel Smets to give a better understanding of the selection criteria and the architectural situation in Europe.

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How Color Affects Architecture

January 12, 2022

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Just as the colors of an abstract painting or photograph can produce a certain mood, so can the colors of a building or room profoundly influence how the people using it feel. Physiologically, study after study has shown that blue light slows the production of melatonin, keeping people more alert or awake even at night. Psychologically, people associate certain colors with certain feelings due to cultural symbols and lived experiences – for example, they might perceive the color red as menacing or frightening because of its connection to blood.

Altogether, the way a room is colored can have complex effects on how its users feel, while a façade can be perceived in dramatically different ways depending on how it is colored. Below, we summarize the emotional associations of every color, assessing their differing effects as each is used in architectural space.

Architecture and Engineering Side by Side: the Case of Urban Bridges

November 15, 2021

The technical needs of the construction of bridges many times guide the development of the design itself. However, architecture is never put aside, rather the opposite. The aesthetics of bridges that we collect in this article are the result of an intense, demanding, and stimulating dialogue between architecture and engineering, where the search for solutions only ends when both disciplines are fully satisfied.

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“Our Goal is to Recover Nature in The Places Where it has Disappeared”: Joan Batlle, from Batlleiroig

November 11, 2021

Batlleiroig is an architecture firm based in the city of Barcelona, whose extensive portfolio encompasses urban projects, landscaping, buildings, and interior design. We spoke with Joan Batlle Blay, Architect & Landscape Architect and partner at the firm, about the innovations and challenges in his work. According to him, “In our office, we think that R+D (research and development) is the company’s main tool to innovate and evolve our work method into an absolute creed for the planet.” See the full interview below:

Pedestrian Connection Between Barcelona and Montcada i Reixac / Batlleiroig

August 03, 2021

Architects: Batlleiroig
Area: 7608 m²
Year: 2020
Manufacturers: Arribas center SL, Bianchini, Breinco, Cofunco SA, Fundición Dúctil Fábregas SAU, +4HIERROS ISERTE SA, Perfiles Aragón SA, Projar, Viveros Planas Pubol SL-4
Professionals: SBS Simón i Blanco

Transforming Factories into Living Spaces: The Changing Face of Spain's Industrial Architecture

January 21, 2021

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The progressive departure of factories from cities, often due to environmental regulations, noise ordinances, or the price of real estate, has left many urban manufacturing facilities abandoned and out of use. As these urban factories are left empty, many adventurous developers are taking advantage of the plentiful space, light, and flexible functions that they offer, leading to a residential revitalization in many of the world's defunct manufacturing facilities.

46 Dwellings in the Former Fabra & Coats Factory / Roldán + Berengué

November 02, 2020

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Architects: Roldán + Berengué
Area: 5391 m²
Year: 2019
Manufacturers: Clever, Duravit, ELEVATE, A-OK Tubular Motors, Argenta Ceramica, +42Azero Group, BTV, Belluch, Bodelec, COES Company, Cata, Cerámicas Pierola, Cerámicas Vilar Álbaro, Ceys, Confortpan, Cortizo, DANOSA, ESCOFET, Estructures Integrales de Fusta, Ezcurra, Fermax, Ikea, Impactodan, Isover, MARAZZI, Mermet, Nevalux, Onduline, Orona Pecres, Panasonic, Polytherm, Postformats del Vallés, Puertas Roper SL, Roca, Saunier Duval, Scrigno, Senor, Soler & Palau, Soltec, Steelguard, Swiss Krono AG, TUYPER, Tabiabsorber, Teula, Texxam, Thermochip, Würth-42

The Versatility of Gabion Walls, From Infrastructure to Urban Furniture

November 11, 2019

Widely used in infrastructure, gabion walls are structures made of mesh metal cages filled with stones. These permeable walls use galvanized steel wire to withstand outdoor conditions.

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Trends Report: Inclusive Design

March 16, 2019

As users of ArchDaily demonstrate certain affinities and greater interest in particular subjects, these topics emerged as trends. Inclusive Architecture was one of the most searched concepts on ArchDaily in 2018.

Retail Stores Under 100 Square Meters: Examples in Plan and Section

January 09, 2019

Designing commercial spaces has historically been a challenge. In these environments, spatial distribution plays a fundamental role, even more so if we have a few extra square meters. With this being said, the study of these spaces in plan and section can be a great starting point. It not only allows us to analyze the logistics and circulation of customers but also helps us find efficient variations and innovations that will enable your store to stand out from the others.

Below, we've selected a series of 25 examples in plan and section that can help you understand how different architects faced the challenge.