Awards Presentation Ceremony during the PIEDRA 2010

The jury´s decision will be announced during the staging of PIEDRA, the International Natural Stone Fair, which is due to take place at FERIA DE MADRID between next 5th and 8th May. In order to boost the awareness, dissemination and use of Spanish natural stone within the building sector, IFEMA and the Spanish Natural Stone Federation (FDP) have announced the staging of the Twelfth PIEDRA Architecture Award for 2010. This award, which will be presented within the framework of the biennial event known as PIEDRA, the International Natural Stone Fair, has been conceived as a promotional tool designed to serve the industry, thus confirming the fair´ s close links with the worlds of architecture and construction.

In view of the Award´s international character, both Spanish and foreign professionals can enter their projects, provided that they feature a significant use of Spanish natural stone. Furthermore, these projects must consist of works completed before Monday 29th March 2010, the deadline that has been established for receiving the corresponding documentation. Furthermore, projects may be presented either individually or collectively, being examined by a prestigious jury made up largely of professionals working within the field of architecture.
By granting this award, the fair aims to recognise the work of contemporary professionals who have made use of Spanish natural stone in constructing buildings of all kinds, based on their unique appeal, innovation, application techniques, etc. The jury will also award three Honorary Mentions.

The Studio, Picado de Blas Arquitectos, from Madrid, Produced the Winning Project at the Last Edition

María José de Blas and Rubén Picado, from the Studio, Picado de Blas Arquitectos, in Madrid, were the winners of the last edition of the PIEDRA Architecture Award, which took place in the year 2008. The winning project consisted of the Theatre Auditorium of San Lorenzo del Escorial, which was recognised due to the considerable quality of the natural stone that featured in the building project, based on a coherent and traditional use of this material and the employment of different techniques and varieties of granite. Three Ex Aequo Honorary Mentions were also presented: to Felipe Obtengo Rufino and José María Rodríguez Pastrana, from AMP Arquitectos, for the Island Athletics Centre of Tenerife; to José María García Ramírez, Francisco Salvador Granado and Juan Alberto Morillas Martín, from GYS Arquitectos, for the City Museum of Almería; and to Guillermo Vázquez Consuegra, for the Visitor Centre at the Archaeological Site of Baelo Claudio.

The Awards Presentation Ceremony for the Twelfth Architecture Award at PIEDRA 2010 will take place within the framework of the eighth edition of PIEDRA, which is due to take place between 5th and 8th May. The fair will also once again provide a meeting forum for grand masters and young hopefuls within the field of architecture, as well as experts within the fields of construction and design.