Carles Enrich Studio Wins Architectural Review Emerging Architect of the Year

Carles Enrich Studio, based in Barcelona, has been named Emerging Architect of the Year by the Architectural Review, recognizing its circular approach to reusing historical structures. The studio's projects include the Jorba castle ruins, where 300 cubic meters of excavated earth were reshaped into a new topography for visitor access; the Merola tower in Puig-reig, restored with a wooden structure to revive its lookout function; and the former Santa Eulalia church in Gironella, transformed into a community arts center. In Badia del Vallès, a residential complex gained a perforated metal walkway with elevator tower bridging an 8-meter height difference to the town center. Current work in Barcelona includes a temporary market designed to be partly retained as a pergola for outdoor activities and energy generation after the original building's renovation, and a historic building being partially demolished internally to house a music school with a bioclimatic system. Founder Carles Enrich (born 1980 in Barcelona) states the studio leverages contrast between permanent and ephemeral, using traditional techniques and materials for maximum energy efficiency while weaving relationships between project, landscape, climate, and culture.