RESEARCH ABOUT RCR ARCHITECTS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Rafael (born in Olot, Spain in 1961), Carme (born in Olot, Spain in 1962), and Ramon (born in Vic, Spain in 1960) are architects who graduated from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura del Vallès (ETSAV-UPC) in 1987. They have been working together under the name RCR ARQUITECTES with their team since 1988. Additionally, they earned a Master›s Degree in Landscape Architecture from 1987 to 1989. They have taught Architectural Projects in Vallès and Barcelona, as well as Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture in the Vallès. Moreover, since 2008, they have been hosting an international workshop of transversal disciplines every summer at their headquarters.

THE RCR APPROACH:

RCR Architects is recognized for its design approach that emphasizes the use of materials, consideration of the surroundings, and creation of sensory experiences. The firm values the relationship between architecture and nature and frequently incorporates natural elements into their designs. The aim of their work is to evoke emotions and foster a connection between people and their surroundings. The projects they create are distinguished by their understated sophistication, timeless elegance, and incorporation of traditional building methods and materials in a creative manner.

ACHEIVEMENTS:

RCR Arquitectes is a Spanish architectural firm based in Catalonia that has received several awards, including:

1. Pritzker Prize (2017)

2. Venice Biennale Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement (2016)

3. UIA Gold Medal (2015)

4. Mies van der Rohe Prize (2011)

5. RIBA European Award (2010)

6. National Architecture Prize of Spain (2005)

7. FAD Architecture Prize (1999)

These awards highlight the significance of RCR Arquitectes’s contributions to architecture and design, and its impact on the field both nationally and internationally.

Research About Rcr Architects

Projects

Lira Theater Public Open Space

The architects have designed a slatted-steel box to form a covered public space for theatre productions. The box has angled sides and is open at both ends, located over a plaza between two existing structures. It overlooks a river and is accessible from the opposite bank through a bridge made from the same material.

Soulages Museum

The contemporary art exhibitions are displayed in weathering-steel boxes that extend slightly from a slope. The galleries are connected by glass-enclosed walkways and bridges, creating a pathway through the museum.

Crematorium Hofheide

The building is comprised of several boxes, each with its own internal circulation, while technical spaces are located in the basement level. This arrangement allows the ground floor, which is slightly lower than the lake level, to be used as a gathering place for meetings, ceremonies, and solitude. The exterior of the building is covered with a thin layer of steel, leaving a continuous strip at the base to incorporate the surrounding landscape into the farewell rituals. As the crematorium does not have a specific form of worship, it uses nature as a backdrop for the ceremony.

Research

Crematorium Hofheide Louvres Study

The rectangular building is mainly constructed with concrete that has been dyed to blend in with the local ironrich stone. The upper two thirds of the exterior walls are covered by a screen made of strips of weathering steel in varying widths. Some of the steel pieces have been slightly twisted, adding a textured design to the building.

Research About Rcr Architects

THE MURABA RESIDENCE, DUBAI

ABOUT

MURABA: MURABA - WORD MEANING RESPONSE TO CONTEXT

Muraba Residences is an architectural gem set on the Estearn Crescent of the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Pritzker Prize 2017 laureates RCR Arquitectes designed the building, which is the first residential project they ever done.

A traditional Emirati word for a building with towers and walls which connect to form a secure home space. Often a landmark, the Muraba becomes a significant part of the identity of its surrounding community

The building’s design responds directly to its context, with its orientation determined by the trajectory of the sun and the windows and balconies pointed towards the views. The Muraba Residences seek to optimise the changing effects of daylight throughout the day, while providing the privacy required by occupants.