Recently, an architectural project in Garralda, Navarra, has captured the attention of the architecture world by receiving the prestigious COACM ‘Miguel Fisac’ Award. Titled ‘4 Affordable Housing Units’, the project stood out in category 4 of the COACM Architecture and Urbanism Awards. This recognition is not only a triumph for architects Nazareth Gutiérrez, Rodrigo Núñez, and Juan Carrascosa, who led the project, but also a testament to a remarkable cultural and architectural contribution, honoring the local essence through a contemporary reinterpretation.
The project was born with the purpose of seamlessly integrating into the landscape of the Aézcoa valley, focusing on offering superior housing quality. Rodrigo Núñez emphasized that the creative process was based on a deep study of the history and typology of the typical farmhouses in the Basque-Navarre region. This analysis allowed the designers to instill traditional elements, such as gabled roofs and white plastered facades, adapted through a modern filter.
The housing units, outlined in two volumes with pronounced roofs, were conceived to maintain a visual and harmonious dialogue with the landscape. Precisely selected materials, such as white mortar and thermally treated pine wood, were used to strengthen their cohesion with the natural environment. This aesthetic consideration was complemented by a commitment to adhere to strict sustainability and accessibility standards, while ensuring that fire safety regulations allowed for innovative use of wood in the roofs.
A distinguishing feature of the project has been its focus on flexibility and adaptability, with housing units designed to accommodate various lifestyles. The spacious terraces, offering direct contact with the natural splendor of the region, are further testament to this dedication to connecting home and the surrounding nature. After two years of construction, the project was successfully completed in September 2022, achieving recognition for both its technical and aesthetic excellence and its emphasis on sustainability and diversity.
In addition to this award, the project had already received an honorable mention in the Luis Moreno Mansilla Award at the XVI Spanish Architecture and Urbanism Biennial. Nazareth Gutiérrez expressed pride in the revitalization of these awards, as well as in the responsibility that architecture associations assume in promoting quality architecture. Gutiérrez also underscored the importance of historical figures like Miguel Fisac, who inspire the development of new architectural languages that season tradition with touches of modernity, thus elevating contemporary design.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
