The project “House on a Brick Plinth”, by Barcelona-based studio Ágora Arquitectura, has won the third edition of the APE Grupo Architecture Awards. Located in Sant Vicenç dels Horts (Barcelona, Spain), the house transforms two disused buildings — a tool shed and a ruined structure — into a restrained, honest and locally rooted dwelling.
The jury, chaired by Marta Peris (Peris+Toral Arquitectes, winners of the 2024 RIBA International Prize), and including Fernando Márquez Cecilia (El Croquis) and Ana del Campo (College of Architects of Castellón), praised the project’s clarity of structure, the modest use of materials, and its coherent integration of ceramics. The house is articulated through a brick plinth that supports a prefabricated upper volume, achieving visual and functional balance without resorting to unnecessary gestures.
Ceramics are used with subtlety and intent, helping to create the project’s atmosphere without dominating it. Features such as a perforated wall and skylight are incorporated with restraint, allowing the architecture to breathe and interact with its context.
In addition to the winning project, the jury awarded two honourable mentions. The first went to “House O” in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Xstudio), noted for its fresh, light-filled spatial intervention. The second was awarded to “WMF Showroom” in Belgrade (Parch Studio), recognised for its clear spatial organisation and material simplicity.
The APE Grupo Architecture Awards are open to architects and professionals from around the world and aim to celebrate the innovative and qualitative use of ceramics in contemporary architecture. This edition received 53 entries from multiple countries. The main prize includes a €5,000 cash award.
Return
