The competition received a total of 121 applications
15 renowned architectural firms seek to renovate the Montjuïc venue
The planned renovation of the Montjuïc venue has attracted the interest of important national and international architectural firms. After receiving 121 applications, today the names of the 15 architectural firms selected to submit proposals for the first phase of the project to renovate the current venue with the aim of transforming it into a modern and urban fairground.
The remodelling aims to transform the Montjuïc venue into an iconic trade fair space in Europe. The goal is for the projects to promote an optimization of the trade show facilities, to update them and make them more flexible and multi-purpose, under the parameters of efficiency, digitalization and sustainability. A large part of all the planned works are expected to be completed in 2029, on the occasion of the celebration of the Centenary of the 1929 International Exhibition.
This first architectural competition, launched in May, includes three lots. The first includes the construction projects for the new Multifunctional Hall to be built on the site of the current Hall 4 and Palau de Congressos and the preliminary project for the renovation and extension of the Palau de les Comunicacions – Hall 1, which must be aesthetically and functionally coherent with each other. The finalists in this area are Data Arquitectura i Enginyeria, SLP – NP2F SARL – Daniel Gómez Masana – Pol Bosch Llovera; Harquitectes Area Productiva, SLP – Rodríguez y Oriol Arquitectos SLP; Miquel Mariné Núñez – Smiljan Radić Clarke – Beatriz Borque Badenas – César Rueda Boné; Urbanitree SLP – Nadaaa Inc; and Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos SLP.
The second lot comprises the design and projects for the new Congress Hall to be built in the current Palau Alfons XIII, which must respect and integrate the catalogued elements of the current structure. The finalists in this block are Forgas Arquitectes, SLP – Archambac SL – Álvaro Alejandro Fernández García.; Pich Aguilera Arquitectes, SL – Kengo Kuma & Associates – Matters Arquitectura SLP; Cruz & Ortiz Arquitectos SLP – Llongueras Clotet Arquitectes SLP; Aires Matheus III LDA – TDB Estudio de Arquitectura 1992 SLP – Técnica y Proyectos SA; and Metronom Arquitectura SLP – Clarasolamorales SL – Tatiana Bilbao SC.
The third lot includes the architectural projects for the transformation of the former Palau del Vestit, now part of Hall 8, where the new Fira Innovation Hub will be located, a space dedicated to the promotion of startups in economic sectors with potential for the future linked to events organized at the Fira de Barcelona. The five candidates selected in the third area of action are Bach Arquitectes SLP – SO-IL EU; Bjarke Ingels Group Architecture Spain SLP – Mias Arquitectura SLP; Ravetllat Arquitectura SLP – Feu i Godoy Arquitectes SLP – Esteyco SA; Estudio Herreros SLP – Josep Llinàs Carmona; and Maio Architects SLP – SARL Muoto.
In a second phase of this process of renovation of the venue, a new architectural competition will be launched for the final remodelling project of the Palau de les Comunicacions – Hall 1 and for the Palau de la Metalurgia – Hall 8.
Final Projects
The 15 firms selected based on the criteria of technical and economic competence in this first phase of the competition must submit their proposals anonymously during the month of February 2025. They will all receive an fee for the development of the projects, which will vary depending on the lot for which they are competing. The finalists in Lot 1 will receive €35,000, while those selected for the second lot will receive €30,000 and those in the third lot will receive €20,000.
Once all the proposals have been submitted, a jury comprised of five internationally renowned architects will evaluate them and select the winners of each lot. The jury is chaired by architect Josep Lluís Mateo and includes landscape specialist Maria Goula; the Navarre architect María Langarita; technical architect Joan Olona; and Construction Technology expert Joan Lluís Zamora. The names of the three winners will be announced during the first quarter of 2025.
New meeting of the Centenary Commission
The architectural firms shortlisted were announced today during the meeting of the Centenary Commission, in which representatives of the Government of Catalonia, the Barcelona City Council and Fira de Barcelona took part, and which also followed up on proposals for content and commemorative actions that could be carried out.
This Commission was created last December with the aim of defining and developing a program of events and activities to commemorate the Centenary of the 1929 International Exhibition, including various events, exhibitions, congresses, shows and unique projects that will generate a legacy in the city.
Barcelona, October 17th 2024
Fira de Barcelona Communications Direction
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