Wright Gallery exhibit featured work by young Spanish architects

“Young Architects of Spain,” a major exhibit showcasing the extraordinary work of several emerging Spanish architects whose designs made their nation a global point of architectural reference by the end of the 20th century, was displayed Nov. 6 – Dec. 10, 2012 in the Texas A&M College of Architecture's Wright Gallery.

“The exhibit highlighted how architectural excellence is being produced by a new generation of professionals, not just by internationally renowned Spanish maestros, ensuring a promising future for Spanish architecture,” said Elton Abbott, assistant dean for international programs & initiatives and coordinator of the Texas A&M exhibit.

A lecture by Miguel Roldán, director of the College of Architecture’s Spanish study abroad program and founding partner of award-winning, Barcelona-based R+B Architects, launched the exhibit.

Jesus Donaire, the curator of the traveling exhibit, and Jorge Vanegas, dean of the college, also spoke at the opening, which concluded with a reception in the Wright Gallery.

The traveling exhibition included 62 original projects from more than 100 up-and-coming architects and teams of architects displaying a variety of rigorously constructed work deeply sensitive to its culture and natural environment, with an overriding focus on sustainable architecture for a sustainable world, said Donaire.

A series of internally illuminated modules displayed the exhibit’s photographs and videos of the projects — public and private commissions consisting of new constructions and renovations to existing buildings. The work is spread across urban and rural environments in 28 Spanish provinces, China, Mexico, the Netherlands, Hungary and Germany.

The exhibition, which has already been on display in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Brussels, is the result of a public competition opened to all young Spanish architects. An international jury of prestigious architects including Manuel Blanco and Campo Baeza and architecture critics Kenneth Frampton and Juhnani Pallasma selected the exhibit’s work from more than 700 submitted projects.

The exhibit’s appearance in College Station was facilitated by Mario Rojo del Busto, assistant dean of faculties at Texas A&M and director of international faculty and scholar services, through his contacts with the Consulate General of Spain in Houston.

The exhibit was sponsored by the College of Architecture, Spanish Consulate in Houston, the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the Spanish Housing Ministry.