A new call for entries has recently been launched for the Richard H. Driehaus Architecture Competition, now celebrating its sixth edition, organized by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation.
In recent days we have received significant updates on the progress in implementing some of the winning proposals from previous editions of the Competition. Below is a summary of these encouraging developments.
– Zubiri, Navarra –
In Zubiri, the project proposed the rehabilitation of a now-abandoned stone building located along the Camino de Santiago, which descends from Roncesvalles, near the bridge that gives the town its name. The winning proposal, titled “Kulturarako Zubi”, was developed by Francisco Sánchez Salazar, Miguel Á. Antonio García, and Jesús Llanos Jiménez.
The tender for the “Rehabilitation Works of the Old Inn of Zubiri (Esteríbar)” has recently been announced, with a budget of about €1,200,000. This investment will enable the execution of rehabilitation works in accordance with the winning project of the competition, allowing for the restoration of this emblematic building. More information about the tender can be found at the this link.
– Olite, Navarra –
Olite sought to enhance the area extending from the Palace and the Church of Santa María to the Church of San Pedro, which, despite being one of the town’s most prominent monuments, has been overlooked by visitors for years. The goal was to beautify and improve the axis formed by Rúa Villavieja, Plaza del Fosal, Plaza de la Rueda, and their surroundings. The winning proposal, titled “CERQUO”, was developed by Estefanía Fernández-Cid Fernández-Viña, Xavier Espinós Bermejo, Lucía Espinós Bermejo, and Rodrigo Toro Sánchez.
In recent months, work has been completed in Plaza del Fosal and its immediate surroundings, allowing for the reorganization of the plaza and a significant improvement in its accessibility. An important phase of the project involved archaeological excavations in much of the public space, uncovering significant remains, including historical pavements and a necropolis with layers from various eras.
The repaving of the plaza was completed using Navarra stone from Pueyo, in collaboration with Olite’s stonemasonry workshop, which crafted special pieces and promoted the work of master artisans. This new pavement, designed with varied layouts and finishes, has established a paving model that could be applied in future interventions within the historic center. Additionally, the top thirteen courses of the spire of the Church of San Pedro, which had been previously altered, were restored. This restoration allows, from the plaza, a clear view of both the original and newly restored sections, enhancing the heritage value of the surroundings.
The construction of the new building planned in the winning project remains for a second phase of the works.
– Jaca, Huesca –
The Jaca City Council proposed transforming the interior of a block in its historic center to create a new plaza for the city, aiming to expand the existing network of pedestrian public spaces with a large public area. The winning proposal, titled “PLURIBUS UNUM”, was developed by Abelardo Linares del Castillo Valero and Elena Jiménez Sánchez.
The project to open the new plaza is now in the execution phase. Following the drafting of a Special Plan, which incorporated the guidelines of the winning proposal, private initiatives have now taken on a key role in its development, with four projects in advanced stages of construction. These interventions will enable the opening of much of the planned space, as well as the consolidation of the designed urban image.
– Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz –
The proposal from Vejer de la Frontera aimed to find a solution in harmony with the local landscape for a new private development planned for the western edge of the town, on a hilltop crowned by a visually significant group of windmills that form the town’s frontage when approached from Cádiz. The winning proposal, titled “Abriendo a Cal y Canto”, was developed by Juan Moya Romero with the collaboration of Sara Lobón Ruiz, Luis Tovar Timmerman, Víctor Rejón Terrones, and Víctor Manuel Jiménez Sánchez.
In this way, the spatial organization proposed by the winning entry has been successfully integrated into the General Urban Development Plan of Vejer de la Frontera, which is currently undergoing the approval process. This integration will establish clear guidelines for organizing the space whenever a private developer wishes to intervene in this area, ensuring that interventions align with the urban vision defined in the project.
Through the following link you can find the necessary information to submit proposals for the new edition of the Richard H. Driehaus Architecture Competition:
