Piedra - winners of architectural award announced

Coinciding with the staging of the spanish fair PIEDRA 2010, the winners of the International Architecture Award organised by IFEMA and the Spanish Natural Stone Federation (FDP) have been announced. At its twelfth edition, the  award went to the  the exhibition and congress centre and cultural centre of Ibiza, located in Santa Eulalia del Río. The building is a work of  the architects, Jesús Ulargui Agurruza and Eduardo Pesquera González

Inspired by church architecture and the typical courtyards of Ibizan houses, this unique building constitutes a clear evocation of the culture, diversity, tolerance and freedom of the Island's peoples. The building features a cultural centre inspired by the Island's natural essence, featuring a spacious area bathed in natural light, which flows through a series of strategically positioned skylights: two over the exhibition hall, one in the assembly hall and another over the courtyard, from which we can glimpse a panoramic view of the Mediterranean pines surrounding the building.

The presentation of the Piedra Architectural Award, which entails a prize of 9,000 euros, seeks to acknowledge the work of contemporary professionals who have made significant use of Spanish natural stone products when constructing buildings of all kinds, as reflected by the unique and innovative appeal of the buildings themselves and the special application and aesthetic techniques applied.

Furthermore, another three projects were awarded with Special Mentions: The  swimming pool of the University of Vigo, located in Orense, which was the work of the architect, Francisco Mangado.

The second Special Mention went to the Renovation Project for the beach of El Confital, located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which was the work of the architects, Carmelo Suárez Cabrera and Antonio Suárez Linares.

The third Special Mention was granted to  the headquaters of the Atapuerca Fondation, located in Burgos, which was  the work of the architect, Ignacio Camarero Julán.