Arriola & Fiol Architects, Barcelona Design Studio, Spain Practice, Building Projects, Office
Arriola & Fiol arquitectes : Catalan Architects, Spain
Arriola & Fiol arquitectes, Barcelona, Catalonia
Arriola & Fiol – Practice Information
Arriola & Fiol arquitectes – Practice
(appears as a “detail window with portrait photo) ANDREU ARRIOLA-MADORELL is an architect, urban designer, and landscape architect, and founder of the practice ARRIOLA&FIOL. Andreu studied at ETSAB, he received a Fulbright Grant and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University.
He was visiting professor at the Academie van Bouwkunst van de HR&O in Rotterdam, at La Sapienza in Rome and at UCLA University in Los Angeles. He has been a Professor in Practice in the Department of Architecture ETSAB since 1994. He is also a member of Catedra J&G at UPC, he is directing his research towards sustainability and technology innovation in social housing.
CARME FIOL-COSTA is an architect, urban designer and landscape architect, and co-founder of the practice ARRIOLA&FIOL. A prominent academic and architectural theorist, she directed the research for her influential book Barcelona Periferia Cubista and she earned Doctor Europaeus from UPC in 2007 with the new book Grids and Diagonals.
Carmen studied at ETSAB and at Columbia University, and received William Kinne Fellowship. Always involved in education in parallel to running her own practice, she has taught at Harvard, Leuven, IUAV and UNICA, as well as at ETSAB.Always involved in education in parallel to running her own practice, she has taught at Harvard, Leuven, IUAV and UNICA, as well as at ETSAB.
Andreu Arriola and Carme Fiol have worked together since 1982. Their association was quickly acknowledged by joint first prize in the competition for the Parc de la Villette in the same year. Since then, their practice has developed projects ranging from architecture and urban design to interior and industrial design.
Initially, the two partners combined their praxis with work for Barcelona City Council. First, they worked in the Urban Projects Service (responsible for the urban transformation of the city of Barcelona in the 1981-1987 period and awarded the 1990 Prince of Wales Prize in Urban Design for ‘its exemplary demonstration of leadership in the formation and renovation of a city’.
Then they moved to the Municipal Institute for the Promotion of Urban Planning, which produced the plans for the integration of the Olympic installations into the urban fabric.
ARRIOLA & FIOL arquitectes was set up in 1987 with the aim of exploring the interrelation between architecture and urbanism, shortening the traditional distance between the two disciplines, using urban planning design based on specific projects and the planning of architecture in public space.
The practice sees projects as opportunities to come up with creative solutions that fully address both the needs and the aspirations of users. It devotes continual care to all facets of the project, from a precise understanding of the client’s objectives to ensuring efficient realization on site. Their international recognition is reflected in the various works, competitions, participation in exhibitions, congresses, lectures and publications in which they have been involved.
Arriola & Fiol arquitectes – Design Approach
For us the beginning of a design always consists in getting to know a “place”. The project evolves from the place itself, which is not merely the backdrop, limiting and hindering the design. In our analysis of a place, meaning the site and the people, we uncover guidelines determining the design.
Our first visit to a place is very significant. We experience its atmosphere with all our senses. Not only the architecture of the place becomes clear to us, but also their other distinguishing features: how it is used, which points, lines and levels evolve from its uses, the automobile traffic, pedestrian routes, open-air events, and gathering places. We especially notice what addresses the senses: the background noise, sunlight, wind and vegetation.
We also observe the surroundings of the place: its topography, the course of streets, the height of the buildings, the density, history and life styles of the neighborhoods. After making these observations we decide which features we would like to emphasize in the design and which to tone down in order to lend the place character. We also collect historical information. With the help of city maps, photographs, anecdotal, newspaper and literary descriptions, we seek out how and why the city of today developed as the result of many different interventions in the course of time. We merely add another one and thus further rotate the wheel of history.
We design with intuition and feeling and with as little material and expenditure as possible. This minimalism rationalizes and simplifies the design, making it sensitive and convincing. Our construction materials are almost always traditional: brick, stone, wood and metal. Yet we use them in unusual ways and in an utterly un-classical manner.
Arriola & Fiol arquitectes – Current Projects
(chronological, starting with the most recent)
Lungomare S. Girolamo, Bari, Italy, 2009
Corredor Verd, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain, 2009
Las Hermanitas amenity complex, block of the Eixample, Barcelona, Spain, 2008
Casa Costa, Pujalt, Spain 2008
Minerary complex Montevecchio di Levante, Italy, 2008
Renovation of Sala de Ball La Paloma, Barcelona, 2007
Rehabilitation Torre Jussana, Barcelona, Spain, 2006
Penthouse Gran Via 533, Barcelona, Spain, 2006
Social Housing Cal Doctor, Alella, Spain, 2006
Parc Logístic de Transport, Santa Perpètua de Mogola, Spain, 2006
7 Maisonnettes, Molins de Rei, Spain, 2006
Innova Social Housing, Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Spain 2006
Piazza Santa Maria del Campo, Ceglie, Italy, 2006
Parc del Torrent i Plaça de la Mercè, Santa Margarida de Montbui, Spain 2003
More projects by Arriola & Fiol arquitectes online soon
Location: Barcelona, Catalonia
Architecture Awards
Designs by Arriola & Fiol arquitectes, chronological:
2009
Finalist PREMIS FAD d’Arquitectura i Interiorisme Barcelona, Museum of Music of Catalonia
Finalist of the X Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism, Gran Via de Llevant
Finalist of the X Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism, Torre Urrutia
Finalist Premi Dècada Fundació Oscar Tusquets Blanca, Parc Central de Nou Barris
2007
IULA 2007, International Urban Landscape Award,
Eurohypo, Topos, A&W, Frankfurt: Parc Central de Nou Barris i Plaça Virrei Amat
Selected International Design Award ADI-FAD 2007, Boomerang
2006
Finalist VIII Premio de Arquitectura del Ladrillo 2003-2005 Madrid, Torre Urrutia
Finalist VIII Premio de Arquitectura del Ladrillo 2003-2005 Madrid, Parc Central de Nou Barris
2005
Finalist European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture- Mies van der Rohe Award, Parc Central de Nou Barris
2004
Finalist Award of the European Prize for Urban Public Space CCCB, Parc Central de Nou Barris
2003
Finalist III European Biennial of Landscape Barcelona, Parc Central de Nou Barris
2000
Finalist Premi Dècada, Fundació Oscar Tusquets Blanca. Jury R. Venturi & D. Scott Brown, Plaça de l’Àngel
1998
Finalist PREMIS FAD d’Arquitectura i Interiorisme, Barcelona, Museu de les Termes Romanes
1992
Finalist of Spanish Biennial of Architecture, Plaça de les Glories Catalanes
1990
Prince of Wales Prize in Urban Design: The Urban Public Spaces of Barcelona 1981-1987, Harvard University
Finalist of Spanish Biennial of Architecture, Parc de l’Estació del Nord
1989
Finalist PREMIS FAD d’Arquitectura i Interiorisme, Fossar de les Moreres
1987
Finalist PREMIS FAD d’Arquitectura i Interiorisme, Jardí Torre de les Aïgues
Finalist PREMIS FAD d’Arquitectura i Interiorisme, Parc del Molinet
Finalist PREMIS FAD d’Arquitectura i Interiorisme, Jardí i Carrer Joan de Mena
1985
Finalist PREMIS FAD d’Arquitectura i Interiorisme, Plaça de Tetuan
5 Selected Projects by Arriola & Fiol arquitectes (chronological)
2009
Museu de la Música de Catalunya, Barcelona
2007
La Granvia de Les Corts Catalanes. Environmental protection project and urbanization of two lineal parks, Barcelona
2006
Parc Central de Nou Barris, Barcelona
2005
Fire department, Montblanc
Torre Urrutia, Barcelona
2004
Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya, Barcelona
1999
Plaça Virrei Amat, Barcelona
1998
Museu de les Termes Romanes, Sant Boi de Llobregat
1995
Plaça d’Islàndia, Barcelona
1994
El Mercadal. Restructuring the urban space and shopping area of the historic centre, Girona
1992
Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes. Master plan of urban spaces and facilities in sector Nord – Glòries, Barcelona
1991
Parc de l’Estació del Nord, Barcelona
1989
Jardí al Carrer Madrid, Badalona
Plaça del Fossar de les Moreres, Barcelona
1987
Parc del Molinet. Master plan for urban spaces and facilities, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona
Arriola & Fiol Architects : main page
Website : https://arriolafiol.com/
Barcelona Architectural Designs
Contemporary Architecture in Barcelona – architectural selection below:
Barcelona Architect Studios – architectural firm listings on e-architect
Camp Nou stadium – Nou Parc Prensa Barcelona
Design: ON-A architecture
image © ON-A
Nou Parc Barcelona Landscape Design
Guest pavilion 1401, Sa Tuna, Begur, Catalunya
Design: Nordest Arquitectura
photo : Adrià Goula
House in Sa Tuna, Begur
Barcelona Architectural Walking Tours – tailored city walks by e-architect guides
Comments / photos for the Arriola & Fiol Architecture page welcome
