Nieto Sobejano, the architects of the Congress Center of Expo 2008 in Zaragoza, introduce themselves to Berlin.
For years, Fuensanta Nieto and Enrique Sobejano have numbered among the most distinguished representatives of Spain’s contemporary architectural scene. For the first time with the exhibition “Arquitectura Concreta,” held at Aedes am Pfefferberg, this pair of successful Madrid architects provides an overview of current projects, all characterized by fascinating spatial configurations and incisive formal idioms.
For Expo 2008 in Zaragoza (Spain), Nieto Sobejano have designed a new Congress Center. May 2008 we will see the opening of their highly acclaimed Madinat al Zahra Archaeological Museum in Cordoba. Although consistently contemporary in design and choice of forms, Nieto Sobejano have nonetheless succeeded here in realizing an architectural language that is simultaneously responsive to the surrounding historic buildings yet independent of them. They have long since achieved success throughout Europe: in Halle / Sachsen-Anhalt, they are currently extending the new exhibition wing of the historic Moritzburg, scheduled to open on 12 December 2008 after three years of construction. The historical substance found in this late medieval castle complex – and representing a variety of stylistic epochs – has been linked by Nieto Sobejano to a contemporary architectural language, thereby rendering this richly traditional setting accessible in the present. In Graz, whose Old Town has been designated a World Heritage Site, Nieto Sobejano are involved in two projects: the expansion of the Landesmuseum Joanneum and the construction of a new roofscape for the Kastner und Öhler Department Store. The artistic facade design of same projects were developed together with wellknown artists: San Telmo Museum with Ferrán + Otero, the Merida Auditorium with Esther Pizarro and the Cordoba Art Center with Realities United.
At Aedes am Pfefferberg, the overview of Nieto Sobejano’s current activities is embedded in an ambitious exhibition design, one that mirrors the forms of their current projects. Enthralling spatial effects, sophisticated materiality, and sculptural design are united here in conjunction with the featured projects to form an unmistakable architectonic approach – the one responsible for the success of Nieto Sobejano. Ample testimony to the fact that this Spanish team is making an important contribution to the ongoing development of high-quality contemporary European architecture.
CV Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos S.L., Madrid
Fuensanta Nieto and Enrique Sobejano are graduated Architects of the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura Madrid and the GSAP Columbia University, New York / USA. They teach currently at the Universidad Europea de Madrid (UEM) and at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura (ETSAM), and are partners of the office Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos S.L.
Both have been visiting critics and referents at various Spanish and international universities as for example GSD Harvard University USA; University of Arizona, USA; TU München, Germany; ETSA Universidad de Barcelona; University of Torino, Italy; University of Stuttgart, Germany; UdK Berlín, Germany; University of Cottbus, Germany; Columbia University, New York USA; University of Texas, Austin, USA; Dallas Architecture Forum, USA.
From 1986 to 1991 they were editors of the architectural journal ARQUITECTURA edited by the Architectural Association of Madrid (Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Madrid). Their work has been published in various Spanish and international magazines and books and has been exhibited among others, at Biennale di Venezia 2000 and 2002, Bienal Española de Arquitectura 2003, Extreme Eurasia, Tokyo (Japan) 2005, On site: New Architecture in Spain, MoMa New York 2006.
Catalogue
An Aedes catalogue was published.
With a text by Jürgen Tietz
ISBN 978-3-937093-89-5
German/English
Price € 10,-
