THE ‘Rural tourism accommodation Dehesa Boyal‘ in Mariana (Cuenca), a work by G+A Arquitectura (Constantino Antolínez, Eduardo Herrero and Raúl Cardo), won the prize in category 1 “New construction and other uses” during the second edition of the Architecture and Urban Planning Award from the College of Architects of Castile-La Mancha (COACM), tied with two other projects.
The jury’s judgment precisely defined the nature and execution of the project: “The disintegration of the program integrates the landscape, using contemporary language.” The prize was collected at the Museum of Paleontology of Castile-La Mancha (MUPA) in Cuenca, which hosted this edition, Constantino Antolinez, Eduardo Herrero and Raul Cardo from the hands of Patricia García, president of the Guadalajara demarcation of COACM.
Antolínez thanked COACM for the award, expressing satisfaction at having been recognized “by other colleagues, as difficult as it may be.” In the same sense, Eduardo Herrero emphasized that “one who knows architecture can evaluate, in a global way, the multiple aspects of a project”.
Herrero highlights the prices recovered: “It seems that Castilla-La Mancha is all left behind. These awards, and the quality of architecture they have distinguished, show that this is not always the case. In any case, the architect recognizes that “in our region there are fewer projects than in others, and that, in addition, private development is neither abundant nor as economically endowed as in other communities , so that the most significant works are public.
He Hotel Mariana Landscape It’s different. “We were fortunate that a private client, with a budget, allowed us to develop an abstract work, leaving us to work,” he says.
The developer is Ecoresort Dehesa Boyal SL. Behind is the businessman Ricardo de Marco (Grupo Prhomarco)which is dedicated to the construction of concrete prefabs, in the same town of Mariana. “In this exceptional case, the client not only allowed us to carry out a unique project, but he also brought us interesting ideas,” says Herrero, alluding to the fact that, in many occasions, the best and best architectural ideas the most original “give in to practicality, lack of economic resources, lack of understanding or a mixture of all these circumstances. None of this happened in this Hotel Paisaje de Mariana. “The property allowed us to work freely, at least outdoors, and the whole thing is consistent with the initial idea,” he continues.
The project even enhances a natural space of undeniable beauty, such as Dehesa del Boyal, in the heart of the Cuenca mountains. G+A Arquitectura has taken care of every detail so that the architectural action is subtle. Thus, the complex integrates into nature 16 small constructions (12 housing units and four buildings for community use), made with materials that integrate with the environment (wood, concrete and stone). The accommodation modules are of two types: standard of 50 m² and extended typology, of 56 m². The total constructed area is 872.63 m². All are rectangular because, as the architect explains, “knowable shapes, like rectangles or spheres, work best in nature.” There is practically no transformation of the orography. The buildings take advantage of the slopes, and simply rest on the ground.
All modules are separated from the ground, floating, without touching the groundletting nature put them to sleep even under construction. “In this project, where it is located matters a lot. The elements are arranged in such a way as not to interrupt the contemplation of the landscape and to generate the feeling of being in the countryside, surrounded by nature, but with the comfort of a four-star hotel,” explains Herrero about the exterior.
Inside, the orientation of the apartments gives them a view of the Júcar. The large window in each of them constitutes an immense screen on the changing landscape of the river grove. One of the unique elements of each module is the terrace: a 14-ton concrete ring. “It’s the promoter’s signature,” says Herrero. The rest is made of steel, insulated sandwich panels and natural wood exterior cladding. All this contributes, with lighter architecture, to generating a pleasant interior space. “When autumn arrives, the poplar acquires ocher tones; It is revealed in winter, and appears intense green in summer, marking the seasons of the year,” indicates the architect.
The complex has a multi-purpose room, which can be used as a nature classroom, for educational activities for children, or even as a small conference room, in an incomparable setting. There are also three other modules for community use at the entrance.
With all this, the complex becomes a reference for activities related to the environment in the region, but also a refuge in which to escape from the daily routine using the best available resource: the landscape, which it treats with the most great respect. and care, as an essential element of its design. “Architecture can enhance any landscape. In this case, it improves it without ruining it at all. It is integrated thanks to small and disaggregated elements,” concludes Herrero.
