Architecture practice AGi Architects has won first prize in the competition to build a residence and day center for the elderly, located on the outskirts of the municipality of Torrecilla en Cameros, in La Rioja, Spain.

The architecture of the project is proposed to minimize its impact on the agricultural landscape that surrounds it, generating an open and volumetrically permeable complex, which favors the social, psychological, and physical well-being of its occupants, with special care in energy efficiency.

The proposal will be adapted to the sloping topography to the south of the plot located in an environment outside the urban core.

The design by AGi architects has a dense program that occupies a large plot of approximately 5,000 m². To reduce the visual impact and seek the best integration into the rural landscape of the Sierra de Cameros, volumetric fragmentation has been proposed, reducing the scale of the buildings and using a contemporary language that uses in its language references to the traditional houses of the zone.

The building adapts to the sloping topography following a comb-shaped organization. A set resting on a stone base on which rests a set of buildings with gabled roofs finished in ceramic tiles.

The combination of these strategies with the application of indigenous and sustainable materials, which will be traditional in the area, manages to minimize the visual impact, reduce the carbon footprint and improve the integration of the project into its landscape.


Rendering. Elderly Care Facility & Day Care Center by AGi architects.


Rendering. Elderly Care Facility & Day Care Center by AGi architects.

Description of project by AGi architects

AGi architects has designed a building focused on people, in their sense of belonging, autonomy, and well-being. It is based on a sustainable architecture that minimizes its impact on the landscape, brings nature into the building, and fosters social, psychological and physical well-being.

The plot of about 5,000 sqm is located on a south-facing slope. One of the determining factors of the project is the large scale of the building for a rural environment, as well as its location on the outskirts of the urban center, in a sparsely urbanized area. The objective of AGi architects has been to minimize the landscape impact of the new construction in its geographical context and to maximize the references to the traditional houses of the area with a contemporary language.


Rendering. Elderly Care Facility & Day Care Center by AGi architects.

The building adapts to the sloping topography of the site with staggered volumes that allow, thanks to its comb-shaped distribution, the best integration into the landscape of the Sierra de Cameros.

A fragmented volume is proposed, which allows the building to be perceived as a set of smallerscale grouped pieces. In addition, materials are chosen according to the context, to visually integrate the building. Natural stone, green roofs, and gabled pavilions finished in ceramic tiles -as has traditionally been done in the towns of the region- connect with the local tradition.

By combining these strategies with the use of native and sustainable materials, it is possible to minimize the environmental impact and achieve a good integration of the project in its geographical context.

More information

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Architects
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AGi architects. Lead architects.- Joaquín Pérez-Goicoechea, Nasser Abulhasan.
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Project team
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Daniel Muñoz, Lucía Sánchez, Irene García.
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Collaborators
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Quantitive surveyors.- Jordán Romero, Fernando López.
Competition Collaborators.- Lucía Azurmendi, Laura Guinea.
Engineering.- GOGAITE + Argenia.
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Client
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Government of La Rioja, Department of Social Services and Public Governance.
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Area
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5,000 m².
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Dates
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2022.
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Location
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Torrecilla en Cameros, La Rioja. Spain.
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Renderings
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The international design firm AGi architects was founded in 2006 by two young architects educated at Harvard University, Joaquín Pérez-Goicoechea and Nasser B. Abulhasan.

With a noticeable international character and a multidisciplinary focus, AGi architects offers a professional service emphasizing quality,creativity and exclusive design. AGi has a vision to create environments that create a lasting value for clients through distinctive and imaginative solutions. At present, the studio has offices in Kuwait and Madrid, with a team comprised of more than 50 professionals.

The studio's architecture is based on four founding pillars: innovation, an inherent life component, ecological and social interventions andresearch. AGi architects provide comprehensive services in architecture, urban planning and design, interior design, research, consultancy and complementary services.

Among the latest acknowledgements for AGi architects are a nomination for the EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture-Mies van der Rohe Award 2015, "Highly Commended" at WAF 2015, four WAF Awards (2014, 2013, 2011 and 2010 editions), ten Middle East Architect Awards(2015, 2014, 2013 & 2012), two mentions at MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards 2012, and various awards granted in the last editions of Cityscape Awards and International Property Awards, amongst other prizes.


Joaquín Pérez- Goicoechea and Nasser B. Abulhasan.

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Published on: May 26, 2023
Cite: "AGi architects wins the residence and day center competition for the elderly in La Rioja" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/agi-architects-wins-residence-and-day-center-competition-elderly-la-rioja> ISSN 1139-6415
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