Meet the jury that will select the ONSITE Mugak/ winning proposals.
2024 December 5
Preparations for the fifth Basque Country International Architecture Biennial Mugak/ which will take place in 2025 are underway. The jury for the ONSITE Mugak/ ephemeral architecture competition will meet to select the winning proposals between December 12 and 13 in the three Basque capitals.
Dates and locations of deliberations
/ Bilbao: Bilbao City Hall, December 12 at 9:30 a.m.
/ Donostia-San Sebastián: Institute of Architecture of Euskadi, December 13 at 9:30 a.m.
/ Vitoria-Gasteiz: Basque Government Quality Control Laboratory, December 12 at 3:30 p.m.
An exceptional jury
The ONSITE Mugak/ jury comprises experts in architecture, design, and construction with outstanding profiles at both national and international levels. Below are the members:
Jury for the three capitals:
/ María Arana Zubiate (Curator of Mugak/)
Architect, researcher, and curator. Founding partner of Urbanbat, a cooperative focused on urban regeneration and social innovation. She has been the curator of the International Architecture Biennial of Euskadi Mugak/ since 2021 and co-director of the URBANBATfest for 13 years. Additionally, she is part of the teaching staff in two master's programs: Design for Change (IED Kunsthall) and Practice and Theory in Arts and Contemporary Culture (Azkuna Zentroa-UPV/EHU).
/ Clara Hurtado (Habic Cluster)
Architect graduated from UPM. She works at Habic, the Basque Equipment, Furniture, and Design Cluster, promoting the competitiveness of its member companies through collaborative local and international projects.
In Bilbao:
/ Concha Fernández Ordoyo (Basque Government)
Architect, from Universidad de Navarra. Currently, Territorial Delegate for Housing in Bizkaia. During her professional career she has worked in the areas of territorial planning, urban planning, residential building and urban rehabilitation and regeneration, both in the Basque Government and in the Provincial Council of Alava, the Agency for the Integral Rehabilitation of the Historical Centre of Vitoria Gasteiz ARICH, S.A., and Ensanche 21 Zabalgunea, occupying different positions of responsibility in all of them.
/ Javier Martínez Callejo (Bilbao City Hall)
Urban Architect with a PhD, currently Director of Urban Planning at Bilbao City Hall since May 2022. Former President of the UAAU (Union of Urban Architect Associations) until 2022. From 2005 to 2022, he led ERDU (Studio for Urban Renewal and Development), specializing in urban planning and socio-urban studies.
/ Miren Escartín (COAVN Bizkaia)
Architect graduated from UPM and Cultural Representative of the Bizkaia delegation of the Basque-Navarre Official College of Architects. In 2018, she co-founded Nimba Studio, specializing in architecture and spatial identity. Currently, she works at DG Arquitectura Habitable, focusing on housing projects.
/ Ibon Salaberria (University of the Basque Country)
Architect from ETSA at EHU-UPV and an associate professor of Architectural Projects since 2007. He currently works as an architect through the platform beSTe arkitektura agentzia bat, having received awards in various competitions such as the Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism, FAD Awards, Ascer Awards, and COAVN Awards.
In Donostia-San Sebastián:
/ Pablo García Astrain (Basque Government)
Director of Housing, Land, and Architecture in the Department of Housing and Urban Agenda. He graduated as an architect from the School of Architecture and Landscape of Bordeaux and holds a DEA postgraduate degree in Architectural Projects from the School of Architecture in San Sebastián. Founder of HTC Arquitectos and former President of the architectural cultural association ATARI in its early years. He also served as a councilor in Zarautz's city hall (2015–2017), overseeing Development Cooperation.
/ Iñigo García Villanueva (Donostia City Hall)
Construction Engineer and currently a councilor for Diversity, Inclusion, and Environment (since September 2024). In 2018, he served as director-manager of the San Sebastián Shops platform, and in 2023, he became Director of Tourism for the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council.
/ Tomás Valenciano (COAVN Gipuzkoa)
Architect from E.T.S.A. San Sebastián and Board Member of the Gipuzkoa delegation of COAVN. Since 2022, he has directed his own firm, Tomás Valenciano Estudio. He co-founded VAUMM Arquitectura y Urbanismo, responsible for iconic projects like the Basque Culinary Center and Lekuona Cultural Factory.
/ Aitor García (Co-founder of Indart3D)
Co-founder of Indart3D, a cooperative led by young entrepreneurs specializing in the design, manufacturing, and sale of state-of-the-art 3D printers. He currently serves as Director and CTO (Chief Technology Officer).
/ Aït-Mehdi (École d'Architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux)
Architect from the École d’Architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux and co-founder of La Nouvelle Agence (2004), an independent firm specializing in influence and creative strategies for major companies and organizations.
In Vitoria-Gasteiz:
/ Igor Díaz de Guereñu (Basque Government)
Innovation and architectural project manager in the Directorate of Housing, Land, and Architecture of the Basque Government. He coordinates strategic programs such as the International Architecture Biennial Mugak/, the Institute of Architecture of Euskadi, and the European Prize for Collective Housing, as well as the Eraikal innovation program in residential building.
/ Unai Gorroño (Egoin)
Economist graduated from UPV and Director of Sales and Marketing at EGOIN WOOD GROUP. For 25 years, he has driven the growth of this family business, positioning it as a benchmark in sustainable industrialized construction in Southern Europe.
/ Alfredo Bengoa (Vitoria-Gasteiz City Hall)
Urban Architect from the University of Navarra (1995). Since 1999, he has worked in local administration, currently as Head of the Planning and Projects Service in the Department of City Model, Urban Planning, Cleaning, Housing, and Environment at Vitoria-Gasteiz City Hall. He is also a Passivhaus Designer (2017) and Archicad BIM Manager (2020).
/ Maite Apezteguía (COAVN Álava)
Urban Architect from the University of Navarra and founder of Apezteguía Arquitectos. She has taught at various universities, including the University of Navarra and E.T.S.A. La Salle. In 2002, she represented Spain at the 8th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.
/ Nuño Mardones (University of Navarra)
Architect from the University of Navarra with a DEA (Advanced Studies Diploma) in Urbanism and Territorial Planning. He earned his PhD in Architecture cum laude in 2012, focusing on British urbanism. Currently, he is a professor in the Department of Theory, Projects, and Urbanism at the University of Navarra.
/ Sofia Lekka Angelopoulou (Designboom Magazine)
Editor-in-Chief at designboom. She studied Architecture in London (UK) and Interior Architecture, Research, and Design in Rotterdam (Netherlands). She has worked on printed and digital publications and interior architecture and design projects in Europe. Since 2018, she has led editorial activities at designboom.
The Jury’s Challenge
Under the theme “Castles in the Air or How to Build Utopia Today”, proposals must integrate innovation, sustainability, and a strong connection with the urban environment. The jury will assess proposals based on:
- Architectural and spatial quality.
- Relationship with the environment.
- Degree of innovation.
- Environmental impact and technical feasibility.
Stay tuned to discover the three instalations that will transform Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and Donostia-San Sebastián during the fifth Basque Country International Architecture Biennial Mugak/.
