Spanish Pavilion - Unfinished
The Spanish Pavilion demonstrates the direct effects of the economic crisis had on the construction industry in Spain through a selection of unfinished projects as the focal point of the exhibition.
Above: 8 photo essays focusing on the meaning and impact of the projects unfinished as a result of the economic crisis.
Above: ”Landscapes under 30″ - each image freezes an instant of the process revealing an invisible reality; together, they reflect the work of this generation: refurbishments and renovations. In tune with the theme of the Biennale, the series implicitly defends destruction over construction, or refurbishing instead of building from scratch.
Above: “Spanish Dream” - The series proposes a critical approach to the economic crisis and its consequences, referring to the American Dream as a symbol of identity of a country through its collective desire: to have home ownership in the Spanish case. Spanish Dream refers specially to the emotional, creating family scenes in unfinished buildings. The aspect is far from a domestic place and contrasts with the normally of the daily scenes, looking for a reflection about a society that, following the desire of becoming owners, forgot the real sense of inhabiting.
As a counterpoint, surrounding these are exemplar projects showing 55 recent buildings that demonstrate a range of radical approaches to working under economic constraints and rebuilding Spain.
Above: Exemplar projects from the “adaptable” series.
The pavilion is particularly successful in demonstrating how more can be achieved with less through careful design.
The Auzo Factory Irazábal-Matiko project in Bilbao by Suárez Santas Arquitectos required a facade solution that maximised daylight and revealed the activity within the new innovation hub, whilst offering sufficient solar shading - all for 10,000€ (28.4€/sqm).
This was achieved through the use of galvanised steel cable trays to create a uniform skin across the entire facade. The result is aesthetically quite striking, whilst impressive in its simplicity.