Dulux Study Tour 2024

City thrives with culture-led architecture

Avoiding a design-led process has resulted in many Spanish projects successfully serving the communities they belong to, the Dulux Study Tour winners discovered.

“The urban fabric is a product of the culture not the other way around,” participant Mike Sneyd said. “Anything that is not embraced by the culture and the population is never effective."

Fellow winner, Jamileh Jahangiri said: “Sometimes we as designers want to force elements of community, but if we understand what really is the life of the city, then maybe what we can design becomes better.”

The group also observed Madrid's evolving styles as the city developed in short bursts over time.

“What struck me so much was that every building is so diverse and there’s such a beautiful amenity in so many developments, particularly in central Madrid,” winner Simona Falvo said.

Flynn Carr added: “One thing I found particularly interesting and engaging was how they’ve prioritised people within the urban landscape. The urban scale has tended to lend itself to having more plazas and open spaces.”

The Spanish visit concluded the 10-day Dulux Study Tour of Tokyo, Berlin and Madrid for 2024.

Read more about the Madrid visit

Reflections: Day 7

By Emma Chrisp

There is order in Madrid, with a clear axis and wide streets. Differing building ages are mixed, creating a rich collage with enticing variation and a combination of form and style.

There are fabulous examples of innovative housing typologies that feel extremely contemporary while providing resident privacy and sheltered courtyards. "I would live here", I announced more than once during the day.

Impressive galleries line the boulevards. Herzog and de Meuron's Caixa Forum performs structural gymnastics by lifting the existing masonry and referencing traditional roof forms in perforated and textured corten while Jean Nouvel's extension to Museo Reina Sofia has a soaring roof form and continuous custom-welded steel columns to form a courtyard.

Hipodromo de la Zarzuela, uniquely Spanish and an absolute must for any architect visiting Madrid, is a stunning feat of structural engineering. Designed by E. Torroja, C. Arniches and M. Domingues (1936), its concrete roof form is expertly cast curving in two directions and tapering to create an impossibly fine edge.

There is something familiar about Madrid and so many stimulating ideas to take home. Madrid is bustling and humming with energy, I'm excited to see what it reveals over the next few days.

Emma Chrisp is an associate at Hayball

Reflections day 8

By Jamileh Jahangiri

We begin with Ensamble Studio and Fabrica where Anton Garcfa-Abril emphasises the importance of model-making. a deep understanding of construction and fabrication and how "as architects, we need to revolutionise how we practice to stay relevant".

This has haunted me since I started my practice. With global warming, Al advancements, and diminishing control over projects, a fundamental re-evaluation of our approach is crucial.

Reflecting on conversations during the tour, I see the connections between all the practices we've visited and, despite their varied locations, cultures, scales, and project typologies, common themes emerge. It seems surreal to be able to visit these practices in such a small window of time, many of which have influenced my way of thinking throughout my career.

Model making stands out as a fundamental tool, not just for presentation, but for design and understanding spatial functionality. Understanding manufacturing and fabrication is another shared emphasis and as a result, many architects are pioneering a more sustainable and appropriate future for our industry.

What strikes me the most is the role of research in these practices. The groundbreaking creations and technological advancements are rooted in thorough research and a deep understanding of fundamentals.

The advancements in design and technology we've witnessed are deeply rooted in rigorous study and a comprehensive grasp of fundamental principles. This commitment to research enables these practices to push the boundaries of architecture and contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future.

I am reflecting on the profound lessons we've learned. Filled with optimism for the future of architecture and inspired by the innovative practices we've encountered, despite their impact, they stay humble and curious.

Jamileh Jahangiri is the founder of Studio Orsi.

Reflections Day 9

By Flynn Carr

We leave Madrid to explore regional towns. At our first stop, we see how careful consideration of community connection is evident at a municipal building in Ayuntamiento en Valverde De Campos by Oscar Miguel Ares of Contextos de Arquitectura y Urbanismo.

Primarily a town hall, it also includes a childcare centre, senior care centre, consulting room for a GP who visits weekly, and a cafe/bar. It is a reminder that architecture needs to provide equity of access and amenities for all.

The thoughtful consideration of using predominantly recycled and reused local limestone from demolished buildings admirably ensures an active, circular economy. The interior palette is restrained but warm, on more than one occasion I found myself running my hand along a stone or off-form concrete edge, the quality of local craftsmanship on display is enviable.

In the town of Castromonte, we visit the municipal pools undergoing a fit-out for the coming summer. Overhead prefabricated beams provide shadows across the walls of local sandstone reclaimed from the fences that used to bind the lot they now inhabit.

Oscar said his works are more than buildings, they are built for the people. He decries vanity in architecture, that we often see architects thinking only of the image, rather than the people.

Here, the buildings must be multifunctional as you may only get the chance to build one building in a town, so you make sure it can do as much as possible, to serve many functions and with a simple structure comes the best solution - and yes, as Oscar reminds us, "less is more".

Flynn Carr is a generalist architect based out of Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory.

Reflections: day 10

By Mike Sneyd

Throughout the tour, I have gained a sense of the quality and quantity of practices and architectural masterpieces we have visited. I am drawn to the desire to build simply and with heart.

There are many architectural comments and approaches, however, a few common universal comments were made in our practice visits and they allude to Al. Is this the end of us providing traditional architectural services? Will most architects be made obsolete?

Reflecting on Anton Garcia-Abril of Ensamble Studio's approach, solidified my perspective that it is a tool, and a tool that can be effectively used and can benefit those who leverage its ability.

We can all learn from the approach to be quickly adaptable and embrace the chaos, whichever and whatever situations we find ourselves in. There is one thing that cannot be taught or machine-learned, and that is to design with the heart.

Mike Sneyd is principal and director of EKD Architects.