- The competition, organized by the Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España (CSCAE), received 534 entries in this edition, with 209 selected.
- The selected projects of Seda-Paperera (El Prat de Llobregat) and Vinival (Alboraya) are exponents of new sustainable urban models that combine urban quality, environmental efficiency and citizen participation.
- Both projects reflect Metrovacesa’s commitment to inclusive sustainable urban development aimed at improving the architecture and urban planning of cities and the quality of life of their inhabitants.
Madrid, April 16, 2026 – Metrovacesa, one of Spain’s leading real estate developers, already has two of its most important urban development projects among those selected for the ARQUITECTURA 2026 Awards, one of the most important national awards in the sector. These are the Seda-Paperera project, located in El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona), and the Vinival project, located in Alboraya (Valencia).
Organized by the Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España (CSCAE), the awards have registered in this edition a total of 534 nominations -the highest number to date-, of which 209 have been selected to move on to the next phase of these benchmark awards in the sector.
This selection, made by the Autonomous Associations and Councils, is an X-ray of the current state of architecture in Spain. The proposals cover different forms of professional practice and focus on values such as innovation, sustainability, urban regeneration and the quality of the built environment.
Regenerating the city from green infrastructure and energy.
The Seda-Paperera project, located to the north of El Prat de Llobregat, is a large-scale urban regeneration project that transforms former industrial land linked to the historic La Seda and La Papelera factories into a new city model.
Promoted by the Asociación de Propietarios del Ámbito Estación, Seda y Papelera del Prat de Llobregat, chaired by Metrovacesa, this project is being promoted in collaboration with the local City Council and occupies a strategic position within the metropolitan area of Barcelona, with excellent connectivity to the city center, the airport and the main transport infrastructures.
Covering an area of 41.9 hectares, the project develops a regenerative urban planning model that transforms former industrial land into a new neighborhood that integrates environmental sustainability, urban innovation and social cohesion. This development provides for more than 1,5,700 housing units, with more than 40 % of them legally required to be subsidized and 20 % for affordable rentals, helping to improve access to housing in the area.
The project is configured as a model of regenerative urbanism that overcomes the existing fragmentation through a continuous, connected and sustainable urban structure. The urbanization project, drafted by Batlleiroig based on the planning prepared by Arquitectura Produccions, is organized around pedestrian superblocks and a green infrastructure based on the concept of “landscape of landscapes”, which articulates the neighborhood and enhances its biodiversity. This system includes a large green axis connected to the Llobregat River, with nature-based solutions that reinforce climate resilience and water management.
Among its most innovative elements is a photovoltaic pergola of approximately one kilometer on Gran Vía, designed by bxd arquitectura, which acts as an energy infrastructure and contributes to a near-zero emissions neighborhood model.
The development is completed with public facilities and commercial hubs that boost economic activity, creating a mixed and active urban fabric. The project has been recognized in 2025 with the BREEAM® Urbanism Award and the ASPRIMA-SIMA Award for Best Urban Development.
An advanced neighborhood between the orchard and the sea
The Vinival project transforms the last great industrial enclave of the Alboraya waterfront, an area of about 10 hectares occupied by the former Vinival wineries in La Patacona.
Designed by architect Juan Herreros, the project is articulated around the relationship between the orchard, the sea and the recovery of industrial heritage. The rehabilitation of the wineries becomes the central element of the neighborhood, as a new node of social, cultural and economic activity.
The planning includes 974 housing units, more than 30% of which are subsidized, and allocates more than half of the area to public space, with more than 36,000 m² of open areas. Thus, an open, permeable and primarily pedestrian system is configured, with vehicular traffic displaced to the perimeter.
The development will include facilities such as two educational centers, an outpatient clinic and local commerce, creating a mixed and cohesive urban environment.
The urban model prioritizes environmental quality and habitability, optimizing sunlight, ventilation and views, and incorporating solutions such as urban gardens, landscaped dunes and living spaces that reinforce the relationship with the landscape.
Since 2021, Metrovacesa has promoted a structured and pioneering citizen participation process, with 40 actions and more than 4,000 attendees, which has allowed it to improve the initial proposal and incorporate real demands of the environment, ensuring a high degree of social consensus.
The projects selected for the Architecture 2026 Awards will now move on to the next phase of the competition, in which a jury made up of renowned professionals will choose the finalist proposals. The winners will be announced on June 9.
