The 4 Architecture students who transformed the Pamplona Solidarity Tombola

Carlota Esquíroz from Pamplona, together with Pablo Elosua and Patricia Rey-Baltar from Bilbao and Marc Ribert from Andorra, won in 2019 the ideas competition to remodel the Caritas Tombola in Pamplona on the occasion of its 75th anniversary. For them it was their first "real" project , which was paralyzed because of the pandemic in 2020 and that this 2021 has been able to materialize in Paseo Sarasate of the Navarrese capital, where it will remain open until next July 4.

As Carlota -who along with her three colleagues has just defended her work Final Master's Degree in Architecture at the University of Navarra in Madrid- recalls, project de la Tómbola was a first approach to professional life: "an idea that went beyond paper to become a reality. And that allowed us, through work as a team, to also delve into social responsibility." "We had to give in, listen, defend our proposals and learn from others. It helped us mature as architects."

The news of its inauguration caught her in Madrid. "I was very sad not to see it live, but I was very happy that our design of the new building served so that Caritas was able to adapt and open this year, with what this means for many people in status of vulnerability, whom this projectsupports so much ", adds Carlota, who hopes to see the live assembly in 2022.

A very special contest from subject "Projects".

Another of the authors of project, Patricia Rey-Baltar, from Bilbao, recalls how the Tombola came to class as an exercise in subject Projects, 4th year of degree program, with the help of the teacher of department Construction, Installations and Structures of the School, José Antonio Sacristán. They all saw it as a special opportunity: "First of all because it was going to be a competition among all of us that was going to be built afterwards. During the course of it we had the opportunity to talk to its promoters, the people in charge of Caritas, to find out what they were looking for with the new project". "In fact, Carlota (Esquíroz) and I really enjoyed the process of thinking about it and drawing it, seeking to facilitate the work of the people who make it up to the maximum".

"It is impressive to see that what we started and designed is built today and will be used for years to come. It has been an incredible experience and a very good opportunity to learn and get closer to the world outside the walls of the School. For me, it's great to finish the degree program with something of my own built", concludes the architect from Bizkaia.

A project made with, by and for people.

Pablo Elosua shares the idea that the Tombola was the first contact with the professional world, "which in many aspects is far from the theoretical reality of most of the proposals we developed during the degree program. Also the fact that we provided a service to Caritas Pamplona: something unattainable as students if we had not participated in this experience".

Andorran Marc Ribert adds that his grandfather was, for many years, president of Caritas Andorrana. "That's why, despite not being from Pamplona, I took the project of the Tombola as something very special staff. I discovered one of the many reasons why I admire him and I felt especially close to him. Through Caritas, through the Tombola; at final: through a project made with, by and for the people." "We realize our proposal with all the love and illusion, and to see it come true in Paseo Sarasate fills us with pride", culminates the graduate of the School of Architecture of the University of Navarra.