The Mexican project Casa de Música, designed by Colectivo C733, and the Bío Bío Regional Theater in Chile, by architects Smiljan Radic, Gabriela Medrano, and Eduardo Castillo, have been jointly awarded the Grand Prize at the Pan-American Architecture Biennial of Quito BAQ 2022.
Located in Nacajuca, the new community center rethinks public space and spatial dignity. "Music and celebrations play a fundamental role in the daily life of Nacajuca, both in the Mesoamerican-rooted Pochó dance and in contemporary expressions," the authors state in the project description.
"The project reuses the foundation of a pre-existing building and provides a dignified space for local social gatherings, featuring a 32 x 24-meter open floor plan and a service core with storage, restrooms, and a kitchen for events. The upper floor functions as a mezzanine for workshops or a stage for local bands."
Organized by the Pichincha Chapter of the College of Architects of Ecuador (CAE-P), the Pan-American Architecture Biennial of Quito has been held since 1978 to foster dialogue, exchange, and reflection on architecture and the contemporary city. This edition focused on the theme "Inflections: Looking Again," aiming to provide a space for discussion and debate on architecture surrounding turning points in history.
Follow our special coverage of BAQ2022 at this link.
This article was written by Fabian Dejtiar. The translation is powered by AI.
