Winner - Resonance Music and Danse conservatory
Blagnac, France
Architect Agency: PPA Architectures
Fabricator: SMAP
Product solutions used: SOLEAL windows and doors, GEODE facades
Photographer: Mille Sylvain
“The prize has been awarded to this project because of its impressive façade and the beautifully designed staircase, with careful attention to optimizing acoustic performance, which is essential for the building's functionality." Jury comments
The Resonance music and dance conservatory, located in the Andromède district of Blagnac, covers 3,411 m² and is positioned at the southern edge of a large park, facing the local high school. Designed by PPA Architectures, the project creates an open, welcoming facility that reorganizes the surrounding neighborhood. The design features a large traversing hall, wrapped in GEODE aluminum curtain walls, with 3-meter-high glass facades ensuring fluid continuity with the public space. The conservatory is metaphorically compared to both a cello and a synthesizer, combining precision with adaptability. The layout allows for independence between the music and dance departments, while providing opportunities for collaboration in the shared, double-height central space. The auditorium features a retractable seating area and a movable rear stage wall, enabling various performance configurations. A wide staircase connects the main floor to the upper levels, further enhancing the building’s flexibility for different types of events. Acoustic performance is critical, both internally—between rooms—and externally, to protect the tranquility of the neighborhood. Aluminium products, including SOLEAL tilt-and-turn and French windows, SOLEAL doors, and GEODE curtain walls, integrate high-performance acoustic glazing to reduce noise. In the percussion and orchestra rooms, double SOLEAL frames were installed to further reduce sound transmission and ensure optimal comfort for all users. Natural light fills the spaces through large, fixed aluminum windows, paired with a metal mesh screen that ensures privacy for students while maintaining views of the park. This screen also filters sunlight, enhancing the building’s energy efficiency and creating a comfortable indoor climate. The black aluminum frames contrast with the white mesh and raw concrete exterior, while blending into the wood-and-black interior design, creating a modern and cohesive aesthetic. The Resonance music and dance conservatory combines modern architectural principles with functionality, offering an adaptable, inspiring space for artistic education. Its design supports both individual learning and collaborative performance, making it a vital cultural hub for the city of Blagnac.
Special Mention - Labor Foundation of Construction of the Valencian Community
Valencia, Spain
Architect: Agency MRM arquitectos Fabricator Alusink Product Solutions used SOLEAL windows. Photographer: Mikel Muruzabal “A special mention has been given to this project because of its elegantly simple design and versatile spaces. The project smoothly combines educational facilities, exhibition areas, and community functions, showcasing innovative multifunctionality". Jury comments
The new headquarters of the Fundación Laboral de la Construcción de la Comunidad Valenciana (FLCCV) is situated in a landscape that blends agricultural and semi-industrial elements. The expansive site is surrounded by olive and fruit orchards and borders the Carraixet ravine to the north. The building presents a simple yet clear architectural structure, composed of interconnected spaces that collectively convey the institutional significance expected of a building of this nature. Given the complexity of the various functional areas and their interactions, the building is organized on a single floor, free of architectural barriers, with a series of linked areas arranged around two outdoor courtyards, each with its own distinctive character. These courtyards play a key role in the internal operations of the building, serving either as spaces for outdoor activities or as areas for social interaction, communication, and relaxation. The strategic layout of the building components and the separation of functions ensure optimal operational efficiency, excellent acoustic insulation, abundant natural light, and flexibility in terms of multi-purpose usage. This layout lends itself to independent or group type activities within the building, which is in accordance with its intended use. The integration of intangible elements, such as natural light, the surrounding landscape and nature, enables the building to harmoniously interact with its environment. The design maximizes natural light in the classrooms and workshops according to specific educational needs. Workshops are primarily illuminated by skylights oriented toward the north-northeast, while other spaces receive light through façade openings equipped with solar control. Ceramic cladding, used for the ventilated façade, unifies the overall visual identity of the centre. SOLEAL windows, in both fixed and flexible versions, have contributed to enhancing the natural light intake in classrooms, while also providing the highest thermal and acoustic performance. Their modern and versatile design integrates seamlessly into any architectural environment, delivering an elegant aesthetic finish. Furthermore, the durability and strength of aluminium ensure low maintenance over time, making these windows an efficient and cost-effective option. A key element of the design is the dialectical use of structure, which is orderly and always visible, reflecting the same constructive vision as the other materials and solutions employed. The building’s finishes are a direct expression of the creative process, where construction details are used as a fundamentally visual resource.
