The lecture is free and open to the public. A dessert reception will immediately follow in the lobby. For more information visit www.kent.edu/caed/lecture-series.
Photo: Crematorium Hofheide in Holsbeek, Belgium by Coussée
& Goris architecten and RCR Arquitectes. Photo compliments of RCR Arquitectes.
Biography:
Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta finished their studies in Architecture at the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura del Vallès in 1987, and since 1988 they work together in their own studio, RCR ARQUITECTES, in Olot, the city where they were born with a team grown beside them. Since 1989 they have been consultant Architects to the Natural Park of National Interest in the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa and during their careers they have also tutored in Urbanism and Landscape Architecture in ETSAV 1989-2001 and member of the Final Year Projects Tribunal in ETSAB 2010-2016 (Vilalta). Studio Projects 1992-1999 and member of the Final Year Projects Tribunal in ETSAV 1997-2003; Studio Projects 1995-2004 and member of the Final Year Projects Tribunal in ETSAB 2002-2003; Landscape projects in ETSAB 2003-2005 (Pigem). Nowadays they promote and lead from 2008 a Summer International Workshop in their studio based in the ancient foundry Barberí, from its laboratory structure RCR LAB·A.
They are Pritzker Prize 2017, National Award for culture in Architecture 2005 in Catalonia, Chevalier and Officier de l’Ordre des arts et des lettres 2008 and 2014 by the French Republic, Honorary Fellows by the American Institute of Architecture (AIA) 2010, Honorary Fellows by the RIBA Royal Institute of British Architects 2012 and Gold Medal by the French Académie d’Architecture 2015, Gold Medal by Generalitat de Catalunya 2018.
In 2017 they created the laboratory RCR LAB·A and in 2013 they have founded RCR BUNKA foundation to increase the architecture, landscape, arts and culture values in society. They have received continuous distinctions for their work most notably the European Architecture Awards: Industry 2017 (Hofheide Crematorium), Spanish International Architecture Award 2015 (Soulages Museum); the International Award 2011 “Belgian Building Awards”; Mies van der Rohe awards in the European Union with a finalist work (Sant Antoni-Joan Oliver Library), four shortlisted works and two nominated; four international prize Contractworld; ten FAD awards; award exaequo IV Premi Europeu de Paisatge Rosa Barba (Rough Rock Park) and Special Mention European Urban Public Space Award 2014 (Theatre La Lira Public Space). They have won various national and international competitions ranging from a Lighthouse in Punta Aldea in 1988, through the Meditel new head-quarters in Casablanca, The Edge Business Bay in Dubai or the Condal linear park and Province Courts in Barcelona to the most recent exaequo the Miró country house and studio Museum in Mont-Roig del Camp.
RCR arquitectes have participated in several international exhibitions such in 1990 as the III Salon International de l’Architecture in Paris; the Venice Biennal 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2016; and in 2006, On-Site: New Architecture in Spain, in the MoMA of New York and Madrid; and in 2010, Global Ends at Toto Gallery Ma in Tokyo. Their individual exhibitions (Works 1988-98) have taken place in Tokyo, (Exfoliacions) in Spain, (RCR Arquitectes) in Bielefeld of Germany, (RCR Arquitectes) in Ljubljana of Slovenia, (RCR Arquitectes Creativitat compartida) at Palau Robert in Barcelona, at Museo ICO in Madrid, at Palacio de Miramar in San Sebastián, (The Intangible Tangible) at House of Oris in Ceske Budejovice of Check Republic, (RCR: Papers) at Centre Arts Santa Mònica in Barcelona, (Landscapes of Ideas: the Sketches of RCR Architects) at Oris House of Architecture in Zagreb and the most recent (RCR. Works on paper) at Centro Cultural El Rule in Ciudad de México, (RCR Dream and Nature) in the Venize Biennale and (Geography of Dreams) at Toto Gallery Ma in Tokyo. Authors of essays and articles about architecture and landscape, notably “Enquadraments”, “Destellos”… They have been invited to give more than 200 lectures in many Spanish and foreign cities and their work has been published at great length in books, specialized and not specialized magazines, to emphasize the monographies as El Croquis, n. 115/116 (III), n. 138 (V), n. 162 (IV), n. 190 (III) and projects 1998-2012 of Madrid; AV n. 137, n. 175 and works 1998-2012 of Madrid; A+U n. 542, n. 549 of Japan and the book “RCR Aranda Pigem Vilalta Arquitectes. Entre la abstracción y la naturaleza” by Gustavo Gili of Barcelona. Among the projects and works even those distinguished they emphasize the Athletics Track “Tossols Basil” in Olot, the Mediathèque “Waalse Krook” in Belgium, the Law Faculty in Girona, the Office building “Plaça Europa 31” in Hospitalet de Llobregat, the New Complex of “Sants” Station in Barcelona, the Hold “Bell-lloc” in Palamós, the Restaurant, the Marquee and the Pavilions “les Cols” in Olot, Spaces for Leisure and Culture in Riudaura, the “La Cuisine” Art Centre in the castle of Nègrepelisse, the kindergartens "el petit comte" in Besalú and "els Colors" in Manlleu, and the school “del Sol" in Font Romeu and more than 20 single family dwellings…
The Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series
The Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series was established in 2002 by Cecile Draime and her late husband Max of Warren, Ohio, to honor their dear friend, Thomas Schroth (1922-1997). A noted regional architect, Schroth designed the Butler Institute of Art’s Trumbull museum in Howland, as well as numerous other award-winning projects. Thomas Schroth spent his life in Niles, Ohio, as a prominent architect and inveterate collaborator in the artistic life of the Mahoning Valley and Northeast Ohio. A world traveler, he saw human creativity as a window framing human experience. The Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series brings diverse views through that window to the Kent campus and community. The Series presents respected guest artists in the fields of Architecture, Visual Arts, Theatre, Dance and Music. Now in its 17th year, it has brought an impressive lineup of guests over the years. Some guests include: composer Stephen Schwartz, Broadway actress Alice Ripley; Grammy-winning Emerson String Quartet; postmodern minimalist artist Richard Tuttle; fashion designers Ruben and Isabel Toledo; architects George Miller and Jeanne Gang; internationally-acclaimed dance companies Jose Limon Company and the Martha Graham Dance Company; and actor, dancer and arts advocate Ben Vereen. The events are always free and open to the public.
For more information contact:
Effie Tsengas, Schroth Visiting Artist Series Administrator | Communication & Marketing Director, College of the Arts
330-672-8398 or etsengas@kent.edu