The Palacio del Condestable in Pamplona and the School of Architecture of the University of Navarra hosted the VII Biennial of Latin American Architecture (BAL) from September 26 to 29, with Ecuador as the guest country.

This meeting aims to provide knowledge of the architectural reality of Latin America through its young professionals and aims to publicize their architectural production in Spain, thus helping its projection.

The event ended at the Palacio de Condestable with a closing speech by lecture . Rafael Vélez Calistoone of the great exponents of Ecuadorian and Latin American architecture.

The Biennial of Latin American Architecture is organized by t he association AREA with the partnership of the City Counc il of Pamplona, the high school of Basque-Navarre Architects, the Government of Navarre, the University of Navarre and the Ministry of Transport, and Urbana of Spain. School of Architecture of the University of Navarra and the Ministry of Transport, mobility and diary Urbana of Spain.

Ecuador, a leading country

The BAL is conceived as a forum for exchange between Spanish and Latin American architects. Eight Ecuadorian programs of study have presented their creations in Pamplona as sample of work that they have made in recent years. The Biennial's main program was held in Pamplona and will be completed with activities in Seville, Granada, Barcelona and Madrid between October 2 and 5.

The 14 teams selected for BAL 2023 are BHY, GSARQS+, Manuel González Veglia, GOAA, Tomás de Iruarrizaga, Lezaeta Lavanchy, Rama Estudio, Emilio López, Escobedo Soliz, 3ME arquitectura, TO, LANZA Atelier, Oficina X and MASA Arquitectos. During the four days of the Biennial, there have been presentations as well as other lectures given by various architectural figures such as Manuel Ramos, Espinoza Carvajal Arquitectos, Diez + Muller, Surreal Estudio, MCM + A Taller de Arquitectura, and Durán & Hermida, among others. 

At the Palacio de Condestable, visitors could also visit a exhibition with the works of architects who have participated in previous editions of the BAL, which sample the evolution and future of the architecture of the Latin American countries presented. 

A visitor viewing the exhibition of the BAL 2023 at the Palacio de Condestable in Pamplona.

The inauguration of the event took place on Tuesday, September 26, at the Palacio de Condestable and was attended by: Begoña Alfaro, third vice-president and councilor of Housing, Youth and Migration Policies of the Government of Navarra; the mayor of Pamplona, Cristina Ibarrola; the ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador in Spain, Andrés Vallejoel; the president of the Navarre delegation of the high school of Basque-Navarre Architects, Santiago Iribarren; the director of the School of Architecture of the University of Navarra, Carlos Naya; the president of AREA, Juan Miguel Otxotorena; and the secretary of the board of trustees of the BAL and professor of the School of Architecture José Manuel Pozo.

As activities prior to the inauguration, the high school Official Basque-Navarre Architects' Association organized on Monday, September 25, an in-person and virtual session of meeting between Ecuadorian and Navarrese architects with presentations and discussions about the differences and potential collaborations between the two countries.

BAL 2023 PROGRAM

José Manuel Pozo, secretary of board of trustees of the Biennial of Latin American Architecture and professor at School of Architecture of the University of Navarra, presenting BAL 2023 to those attending the inauguration.