The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) is pleased to announce that the TOVA project has been chosen as one of the 15 Winners of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Prizes 2023 in the “Shaping a Circular Industrial Ecosystem and Supporting Life-Cycle Thinking” category and one of the 5 projects that won in the strand “Champions”. During a granting ceremony held in Brussels, Edouard Cabay, Co-director of the Postgraduate in 3D Printing Architecture, presented the project and received the prize.

Photo credits © European Commission, 2023

TOVA is Spain’s first 3D printed prototype using earth, built with a Crane WASP. The project was born from the ongoing research developed by a group of students and professionals from the Postgraduate in 3D Printing Architecture of the Academic Year 2021-2022 to find new ways of facing the social and environmental challenges of the future. The construction, that has been carried out at the Valldaura Labs, represents the bridge between the past vernacular earthen architecture and the future of large scale 3D printing technology. Read the full information and credits about the project.

The New European Bauhaus initiative serves as a creative and interdisciplinary platform that connects the European Green Deal with living spaces and experiences. TOVA has gained recognition for its exceptional quality, alignment with NEB values, and significant potential to promote beauty, sustainability, and inclusion throughout the NEB initiative. The prize aims to acknowledge and reward existing projects as well as concepts developed by young individuals. These projects and concepts showcase that the sustainable solutions advocated by the European Green Deal can also embody inclusivity and aesthetic appeal, enriching people’s daily lives with high-quality experiences.

Photos credits © European Commission, 2023

TOVA, already winner of this year’s Archdaily Project of the Year in Spanish, continues to receive recognition and mentions, demonstrating the significant interest it has generated within the architectural community and beyond.