"For the fourth edition of the Premio Década, we were fortunate to have the great Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta as a jury.

◻️ Legorreta's caliber is indisputable; he was the outstanding disciple of the great Barragán, and when we visited Mexico City, we stayed, without hesitation, in his extraordinary hotel, the Camino Real. In this work (photos 2 and 3), Ricardo captured Barragán's poetic style and made it monumental. It was the first, and perhaps the only, large hotel establishment that had nothing of the language of the overwhelming American chains: no height, no curtain walls, no aluminium, little glass, nothing 'Yankee', all deeply Mexican: blind to its depressing exterior perimeter, it turned inwards to shaded, intimate courtyards filled with tropical vegetation. An architecture and an architect that my Foundation had to inevitably acknowledge.

◻️ He arrived in Barcelona, accompanied by an attractive young woman, and within 24 hours, before starting the obligatory visits, he had already seen a number of remarkable works in the city. When, astonished, I asked him how he managed to get around and park in such distant places, he told me that whenever he arrived in a city, he would hire a taxi for the whole day and not leave it (a lesson I learned for life). His lecture, the visits, and the shared meals were a delight. The work he chose to award was a surprise to everyone, especially the winners, who could hardly believe it. "

Oscar Tusquets Blanca

〰️

〰️

〰️

Jury Report for the Premio Década 2003 (Works completed in 1993)

"Being the jury for the Premio Década 1993-2003 has been, as I anticipated, a great honour and a source of joy. What I did not foresee was that it would also be a learning experience and a very delicate task, as the quality of the works presented is, without exception, a showcase of excellence and a variety of architectural directions. Judging architecture ten years after its completion allows for a clear, deep, and serene analysis.

▪️ The winning work is the Neo Building - Fecsa Headquarters by RGA Arquitectes. It is a magnificent example of how, by respecting existing buildings, not only is a historical reference made, but also the fabric of architectural evolution is woven together through a talented, serious, and contemporary intervention. The spaces created by the integration of the chimneys are particularly interesting, both from the outside and from the inside, turning the ensemble into a high-quality urban sculptural space. The materials relationship between the chimneys and the buildings, and the contrast with the concrete and glass, are very well achieved, integrating the whole into the city in an elegant and natural way.

▪️ In the urban landscape, the volumes, materials, and vertical elements represent a very positive contribution to the beauty of Barcelona.

▪️ Given the variety and quality of the selected works, I cannot help but mention the bold and excellent solution of the Office and Parking Building on Rambla 88-94 by MBM Arquitectes, and the refinement and detail of the Bon Ton House by Martínez-Lapeña and Elías Torres.

▪️ I conclude: long live good architecture! which generates the great city of Barcelona. Keep moving forward with the Premio Década and many thanks for the pleasure and the lesson."

Ricardo Legorreta

Barcelona, 16 May 2003

〰️

〰️

{Photography on the award ceremony by Rafael Vargas}