On Tuesday, 5 April, a public session was held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda to open the administrative documentation identifying the winners and finalists of the jury-assessed design competition for the restoration and extension of the Royal Academy of Spain in Rome (RAER), jointly organised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.
Once again, the Directorate-General for Urban Agenda and Architecture opted for an anonymous design competition, with proposals submitted under a motto and assessed by a distinguished jury. The proposal selected was the one considered by the jury members to be the most suitable for carrying out the work covered by the project, on the basis of its appropriateness, architectural quality and technical, economic and construction feasibility.
Through these competitions, the Ministry aims to set an example and encourage the use of this form of design procurement, which prioritises the assessment of architectural quality, in line with the principles set out in the draft Architecture Quality Act.
Forty teams of professionals took part in the competition. The jury comprised Iñaqui Carnicero, Director-General for Urban Agenda and Architecture and chair of the jury; Hilda Jiménez, Director-General for the Foreign Service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation; Mª Ángeles Albert de León, Director of the RAER; Marta Callejón, Deputy Director-General for Architecture and Building; Juan Bordes, representative of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando on the RAER's Board of Trustees; Elías Torres, Margherita Guccione and María Langarita, architects of recognised standing; and Elena Calama, Head of the Architecture Promotion Unit and secretary to the jury.
The first prize, worth €30,000 plus VAT, was awarded to the proposal entitled “FUTURO PRECEDENTE”, submitted by Estudio de Arquitectura Jesús Aparicio and Donaire Milans Arquitectos, the Italian architects and heritage experts Francesco Cellini and María Margarita Segarra, together with restorer Alejandro Pajares.
“The jury values the proposal for the restoration and organisation of the existing spaces within the monumental complex, as well as the simultaneous management of circulation routes for residents and visitors, the restoration of the Chapel of St Anthony as an access point to the Romantic Garden, and the creation of openings and views in the north façade. The strategy for extending usable spaces by thickening the perimeter walls on both Via Garibaldi and Porta San Pancrazio is also valued. The jury concludes that the intervention in the gardens must allow the historic trees to be preserved.”
Once the winning team has demonstrated compliance with the requirements set out in the tender specifications, it will be responsible for preparing the detailed construction design and undertaking the technical supervision of the works.
The second prize, worth €15,000 plus VAT, was awarded to the proposal entitled “1748”, by Pereda Pérez Arquitectos, Massimo Cardone and Marco Petrangeli, and the third prize, worth €10,000 plus VAT, to “Mica Aurea”, submitted by the temporary consortium comprising Jorge Palomero, Sofía Romeo Gurrea-Nozaleda, Miguel Sotos Fernández-Zúñiga, Adrián Paterna Ferrón and Gonzalo Peña Sancho.
In addition, two honourable mentions, each worth €7,500 plus VAT, were awarded to the proposals “Donato”, by Martínez López Santa-maría S.L., and “Sie Die”, by Estudio Arquitectura HAGO S.L.
Royal Academy of Spain in Rome
The Royal Academy of Spain occupies an architectural complex of historical and heritage value, resulting from numerous additions and interventions that have introduced new structural elements over five centuries, from 1480 to the 1940s.
This monumental complex, which has become one of Spain's most prestigious residences for artists and researchers, has been accommodating fellowship holders since 1881. To date, more than a thousand artists and researchers have had the opportunity to live in Rome and develop projects in which the exchange of experiences across different disciplines, ages and backgrounds has resulted in works of art, compositions and publications, many of which have been disseminated worldwide.
Objective of the Project
The buildings covered by the competition are the main convent building surrounding the Pomarancio cloister (16th and 19th centuries), the entrance pavilion dating from 1929, the extension built in the 1940s, the residential quarters of the Franciscan convent (20th century), the Chapel of St Anthony of Padua, various rooms and storage areas in the garden, and outdoor spaces including the inner garden, the Romantic Garden, courtyards and terraces.
The aim of the project is to restore and functionally adapt the Academy's original spaces, which serve as a residential and cultural centre and now require intervention owing to the passage of time, the obsolescence of their facilities and the absence of certain infrastructure that has become essential.
The project also seeks to extend the Academy's premises by making use of the residential quarters formerly occupied by the Franciscan friars, which are now available, as well as the possibility of constructing new buildings for this purpose, subject to obtaining the necessary authorisation from Rome's urban planning authorities. This would provide additional space to enable the Academy to perform its functions more effectively.
Finally, the project aims to consolidate, restore and enhance a unique architectural complex of historical and cultural heritage owned by Spain.
Architectural Heritage Restoration Programme.
The Ministry also finances a significant number of other restoration projects through the Architectural Heritage Restoration Programme of the Directorate-General for Urban Agenda and Architecture. This programme involves carrying out major restoration works on Spain's architectural heritage and providing public facilities, funded from the Ministry's own budget.
In these cases, the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda acts as the contracting authority for the works, with investment of more than €24 million planned under the Programme for 2022.
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