Two decades ago, at the "International Congress on Construction in Architecture and its Teaching" held in Barcelona, Helio Piñón spoke of attention to materiality and construction as a fundamental condition of conceiving architecture. Today, in 2022, Equipo 01 Architecture & Design—composed of Jesús San Vicente and Franca Colmenarez—reverses this statement by presenting the National Paradores Pavilion at the FITUR 2022 International Tourism Fair.
Awarded the Best Design and Sustainability awards at the FITUR 2022 trade fair in Madrid, this temporary pavilion is inspired by the rich architectural and cultural heritage of the Paradores Nationales hotel chain.
Architecture Without Matter
In the designers' own words:
The space is configured as a large cloister and a gallery of arches, creating a walk-through museum among frames displaying images of the hotels. Our goal was to create an evanescent, airy architecture—a phantom of lightweight metal mesh that gains structural strength through its folds. Light is the primary material shaping this abstract and ethereal structure. All materials used can be fully repurposed, reflecting a commitment to sustainability and a zero-carbon footprint.
Client: Paradores Nacionales, Spain.
Project Architects: Equipo 01 Architecture & Design. Jesús San Vicente and Franca Colmenarez.
Contractor: El Corte Inglés Viajes.
Metalwork: Hermanos Galán S.L.
Electricity and Lighting: Tecmodiluz S.L.
This article was written by Elías Barczuk Pasamán. The translation is powered by AI.
.jpg?1643132937 "Architecture without matter: an ephemeral pavilion during the 2022 International Tourism Fair in Madrid")
