2G 22: ABALOS AND HERREROS

Description

As a consequence of their teaching, editorial, research, public and design activities Iñaki Ábalos and Juan Herreros have created their own identity as architects committed to the contemporary world and antagonistic towards all professional mysticism. Their interests are basically centered on contemporary programs, the relationship between technics and nature, the rapport between the natural and the artificial, their collaboration with visual artists, and the techniques and mixed programs which they themselves have called “a new naturalism.” Their oeuvre delves into regions which turn out, on occasion, to be marginal to the professional world of the architect (rubbish tips, artificial beaches, etc.) and has a kinship with American pragmatism and figures from the former School of Madrid such as Alejandro de la Sota. An investigation into building techniques based on the products available in catalogues along with a concern for the urban situation, without ever falling into contextualism, are two of the main features of such built works as the Usera Library, the Valdemingómez Recycling Plant and their studio for Luis Gordillo, all in Madrid, the Environmental Education Center in Arico (Tenerife) and their office building for the University of Extremadura.

CONTENTS

Introductions

• Florian Beigel & Philip Christou: Teasing Modernity
• Cristina Díaz & Efrén García: From Close To
• Ábalos&Herreros: A New Naturalism (7 Micromanifestos)

Works and Projects

I. The Atlantic

• Environmental Education Center and offices, Arico, Tenerife
• Plaza Woermann and its tower, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
• The Straits of Gibraltar
• Mora House, Cádiz
• Andalusia Regional Government Tax Office, Almería

II. The Mediterranean

• Es Pil.lari housing complex, Palma de Mallorca
• Coast Park, Forum 2004, Barcelona

III.Central Plateau and pastureland

• Public Library, Usera, Madrid
• Valdemingómez city-dump recycling plant, Madrid
• Gordillo Studio, Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid
• Biomethanation and composting plant, Pinto, Madrid
• Municipal hall and main square, Colmenarejo, Madrid
• Administration building and new graduate facilities for the University of Extremadura, Mérida, Badajoz

IV. The Cantabrian Coast

• Bioclimatic mixed-use towers in the Salburúa Fens, Vitoria

Biography

Nexus

• Part I. Hans Ulrich Obrist interviews Ábalos&Herreros.
• Part II. Hans Ulrich Obrist interviews Cedric Price on Ábalos&Herreros

144 pages, color ills / 23 x 30 cm/ English, Spanish