Barcelona Urban Tech Hub at the Venice Architecture Biennale

Architects Vicente Guallart and Daniel Ibañez , from Urbanitree, have been selected to show this project in the Central Pavilion of the Venice Arsenal, within the exhibition entitled IAAC: Prototyping the Future , where a 1:10 scale model of the future building will be exhibited.

The project, developed in collaboration with the Barcelona City Council and Barcelona Activa, will become the new headquarters of the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) and a center for urban innovation. The main objective is to transform the industrial buildings of La Sibèria into a prototype of advanced architecture, implementing innovative solutions created by the IAAC over the last decade. One of the main strategies is industrialized robotic construction in solid wood, which will improve sustainability and efficiency in construction. The building will also be designed as a self-sufficient model, with decentralized energy systems to optimize its energy efficiency and reduce its dependence on traditional resources.

In addition, it will incorporate the concept of the Internet of Energy, which will allow energy resources to be managed and distributed intelligently. The use of 3D printing with soil will be another important innovation, as it will contribute to the construction of more sustainable structures, reducing waste and polluting materials. The building will also feature urban solar greenhouses for food production, promoting local agriculture and food sustainability. Another highlight of the project will be the installation of open-source sensors for real-time environmental monitoring, improving air quality and indoor conditions in the building. In addition, green walls and recycled water reuse systems will reinforce the commitment to sustainability and the efficient management of natural resources.

The Barcelona Urban Tech Hub is presented as an architectural manifesto that explores the role of collective intelligence in the creation of urban innovation spaces. Thanks to the use of biomaterials, industrialized processes and self-sufficient strategies, this project will become a reference model in regenerative architecture. Its participation in the Venice Architecture Biennale will allow us to show how Barcelona, as the future capital of architecture in 2026, is committed to innovation and sustainability in urban development, consolidating itself as an international benchmark in these areas.