PORTFOLIO ALMUDENA CANO PIÑEIRO
BIOGRAPHY ALMUDENA CANO PIÑEIRO
Almudena Cano Piñeiro is an architect and urban designer. She is also co-founder of LanA, a laboratory dedicated to urban anthropological research, design and teaching. Since 2011, LAnA has been developing experimental research methods to analyze and represent the construction of collective identities in the urban scene. LanA members have participated in conventions and exhibitions such as EME3 “Global problems, local solutions”(Barcelona,2011) and “Ideas Urbanas2.0” (Barcelona,2012). In 2012 she graduated from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid, where she first developed her understanding of architecture as a tool for social empowerment towards a better and more sustainable future. Her graduate project “Urban Strategies to Regenerate Indian Public Space: A Case Study of Pols in Ahmedabad, India” was awarded the COAM “PFC Innovation Prize 2012”, ISARCH Award 2012 and Graduates Architecture Award 2012. The project is a finalist for both the Global Graduates Award (Architectural Review, 2012) and ARPA-PETC Young Researchers Award 2012. It was recently nominated for the Hunter Douglas Awards in the framework of Arch Moscow NEXT exhibition 2013. Her work has been published by specialized discussion forums and architecture magazines including Architectural Review (October, 2012), AV proyectos, Archiprix International, Hicarquitectura, Activistark,Metalocus. Her projects have been exhibited at the 13th Biennale di Venezia (Venice, Italy), Colegio de Arquitectos de Madrid (Madrid, Spain) and the Roca Galleries in Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon. Almudena received an Erasmus grant from ENSA Paris-Belleville in Paris in 20082009 where she worked with international firms and research teams such as Bres+Mariolle: architecture and urbanism, and LAA: Laboratoire d’Architecture et Anthropologie in conjunction with ENSAParis-La Villete. In recent years, she has collaborated with Izaskun Chinchilla Architects (2009-2010), Beta.0 Architecture+Landscape (2010-2011) and Arenas+Basabe+Palacios (June 2011-Present).
URBAN STRATEGIES TO REGENERATE INDIAN PUBLIC SPACE A case study of Pols in Ahmedabad
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Graduate project ETSAM 2012
THE PROPOSAL This project explores potential methodologies for urban interventions in historic city centers. The traditional fabric of those areas is currently facing the effects of external forces resulting from rapid development and intense socio-economic pressure. This proposal calls for an integral approach in the revitalization of traditional urban areas. In contrast to renewal programs that ignore existing architectural and cultural heritage, this project proposes a number of innovative strategies for regenerating the traditional public space. Such as a catalogue of urban tools that both solves the lack of infrastructure (water,drainage,etc) and preserves the traditional way of life by improving the quality of common spaces.
THE CONTEXT
The Pols of Ahmedabad are regarded by historians, architects and urban designers as one of the finest surviving examples of urbanism and domestic architecture in Indian tradition They represent a beautiful manifestation of compact, climactically responsive, urban settlement, where the past and future are still able to coexist.
URBAN STRATEGY
This intervention in the city core is thoroughly focused on: natural, social and cultural resources; sustainable local technologies; and both individual and collective values. The project attemps to detect latent opportunities in the city itself, taking advantage of the existing scenario. Obsolet infrastructures are replaced by a new network of urban transformation devices that reinforce the ongoing processes. The itemized analysis of the tissue reveals the need for small-scale interventions to regenerate existing spaces. Five test cases are identified as representative sites for implanting a network of interconnected devices that positively transform and reorganize the those scenarios.
CATALOGUE OF TOOLS
The project offers a catalogue of tools that analyzes the use of the existing structures of production, along with the environmental impact and social relationships associated with production. A number of structural systems, climate control mechanisms and recycling technologies, are categorized in order to preserve traditional know-how. Innovation and technology transfer play an important role in social development through their contributions to city growth. The ultimate purpose of this research is to empower and increase the capacity of a society to develop the required skills to build its own future.
CATALOGUE OF INTERVENTION DEVICES
Rather than determine a single solution, this project aims to create a flexible and adaptive system conceived for managing a variety of urban contexts with similar degrees of complexity, in constant development with shifting paradigms. Intervention devices are designed to reorganize the existing urban scene by restoring the identity of the public space as a place for daily activities and social interaction. These artifacts are conceived to harness local resources, materials and technologies, with a high commitment to social and environmental sustainability
CASE STUDY 0.1 SUPERIMPOSED FACADE
Given the wide range of urban tools, each transformation device is conceived to respond to site-specific conditions. The case study urban situations determine the spatial problems and the social needs to consider (functions and daily activities to promote). Each design explores a particular structural system with its appropriate construction process. In addition, these artifacts improve existing infrastructures by applying energy saving methods, water reuse and recycling technologies, in order to create a more sustainable urban environment.
RESEARCH PROJECTS Brief academical & professional research background
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Regeneration cells for a sustainable European identity The Europe´s become-International Ideas Competition-2012
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Elisa is looking for a home Global Problems, Local Solutions -EME3 forum- 2011
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Sur l’adaptation du territoire à la question environamental ENSAParis-Belleville, 2008
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Rehabilitation center for disabled children in Nouakchott, Mauritania 6th IAHH International Student Competition, 2007
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Collaborations
REGENERATION CELLS FOR A SUSTAINABLE EUROPEAN IDENTITY THE EUROPE´S BECOME-INTERNATIONAL IDEAS COMPETITION-2012
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Almudena Cano & Begoña de Meñaca
ELISA IS LOOKING FOR A HOME GLOBAL PROBLEMS, LOCAL SOLUTIONS -EME3 FORUM- 2011
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Arquitropias (Almudena Cano & Isabel Gutierrez)
SUR L’ADAPTATION DU TERRITOIRE À LA QUESTION ENVIRONAMENTAL ENSAPARIS-BELLEVILLE, 2008
REHABILITATION CENTER FOR DISABLED CHILDREN IN NOUAKCHOTT 6TH IAHH INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMPETITION, 2007
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Almudena Cano, Isabel Gutierrez, Jorge Martin & Alfonso Rengifo
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE COLLABORATION IN DIFFERENT ARCHTECTURAL STUDIES
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Laboratoire dántropologie et architecture LAA in conjuction with ENSA Paris-La Villete, 2009
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Brès+Mariolle ,2009 Izaskun Chinchilla 2010 Beta.0 Architecture+Landscape, 2010-2011 Arenasbasabepalacios, 2011-2013
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Urban lighting for “City of Culture Museum” in Santiago de Compòstela, Spain Izaskun Chinchilla 2010
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Museography for the “Fairy Tales Park” Izaskun Chinchilla,2010
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Finnoo Marina City, Finland Arenasbasabepalacios, 2011
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Nordbahnhof, Vienna Arenasbasabepalacios, 2011
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Reàmenagement de la Cour Seine, Gare d’Austerlitz, Paris Brès+Mariolle ,2009
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Europan 11 Peje, Kosovo Arenasbasabepalacios, 2011