Catalan architects, present at the Denkmal Restoration Fair
The Centre for Architectural Rehabilitation of Barcelona (OBRA) takes part in the 2014 Denkmal Fair for Conservation, Restoration and Old Building Renovation, held on November the 6th, 7th and 8th in Leipzig (Germany) and dedicated, this year, to historical facades.
The Architects's Association of Catalonia, an OBRA member, will be exhibiting the rehabilitation projects participating in the 'Mostra d’Arquitectura de Barcelona', along with the rehabilitation project for the facade of our headquarters, and the AADIPA European Prize for Intervention on Architectural Heritage.
The stand will also showcase the restoration of the Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona and the restoration of Barcelona's Ciutat Vella.
Denkmal is the benchmark fair in the field of renovation and restoration of architectural heritage. The fair is experiencing a period of expansion, with strong influence in Central and Northern Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia.
Energy Efficiency Plan by the Catalan Department of Culture: COAC is conducting the Protocol
The implementation of the new Energy Efficiency Plan anticipates a reduction of 15% to 20% of the annual energy consumption of the Department of Culture's real state stock.
The Energy Efficiency Plan promoted by the Catalan Government's Department of Culture through the Catalan Cultural Heritage Agency, aims to manage museums, monuments and archaeological sites in a more efficient and sustainable way, encompassing maintenance and energy efficiency in all centers.
Escola Sert, after an agreement signed between the Department of Culture and the Architects's Association of Catalonia, will carry out the Protocol for improving the energy efficiency of buildings. This protocol is informed by all the research and analysis conducted up to date by Escola Sert within the European Project MARIE, and is based on ISO 50001, which applies energy saving measures that do not require investment and entail a reduction of environmental impact and cost of ownership, while ensuring comfort conditions and quality of life.
Implementation of the Protocol
The implementation of this Protocol, which includes training for qualified professionals and direct interventions in selected buildings, will be developed in early 2015.
Thus, a group of students, led by a skilled teacher, will perform data collection of buildings, energy efficiency diagnosis, programme of improvements and implementation budgets.
Postgraduate in Energy Management for Buildings
Currently, the protocol is being implemented in several existing buildings through Escola Sert's Postgraduate in Energy Management for Buildings, where students perform real actions on existing buildings, thus developing proposals for improvement in energy management.
For more information, visit the website of the Department of Culture and the website of Escola Sert.
Sacred heritage, AADIPA's next international conference
This year, the theme of the conference, which will take place from December the 11th to the 14th in the COAC hearquarters, focuses on "Sacred heritage: ongoing innovation".
The opening ceremony will be led by Antoni Vilanova, chairman of the AADIPA; Ricardo Gómez Val, director of the course; and Lluís Comerón, dean of COAC. Architect Mario Botta will give the opening lecture, entitled "Sacred Architecture".
This year, the aim of the course is an in-depth analysis of our extensive sacred heritage. Given its size and importance, it seems advisable to create a reflection forum in order to define how this heritage is, what its condition is, which are its legal requirements, etc. To achieve this goal, both local and international experts coming from different professional fields will discuss their experiences.
Thus, the focus on December the 12th will be constant innovation and interventions over the years. On the 13th, we will discuss the construction of new sacred spaces and changes of use. Finally, on the 14th, a day-trip to Vic is organised in order to visit the Choir and Bell Tower of Església de la Pietat and Sant Pere's Cathedral. Check the programme.
For more information, click here.
The correspondents' network is present in 30 cities
You can now access information on our website, including detailed profiles of the new correpondents (Maria Giramé, Laura Vivet and Jaime Torres), as well as information on exercising the profession in each country.
With the addition of three new members, our network has now 30 correpondents, whose aim is to increase opportunities to work abroad while at the same time maintaining ties with Catalonia and Catalan architects.