roberto conte captures concrete texture of brutalist house of architects in tenerife

angled windows project from the concrete volume

Roberto Conte captures the concrete beauty of tropical-brutalist architecture in the idyllic landscape of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. The headquarters of the Tenerife Architects’ Association becomes the protagonist of the architectural photographer’s new series which spotlights the quiet legacy of this building. Built between 1966 and 1971 by a working group led by architects Javier Díaz-Llanos La Roche and Vicente Saavedra Martínez, the building integrates bold modernist forms with functional design for an adaptable interior. Key features include a vertically imposing main structure, an open square with exhibition spaces below, and a facade marked by irregularly arranged windows and striking concrete textures.

roberto conte spotlights the brutalist structure’s legacy

Díaz-Llanos and Saavedra, both graduates of the Higher School of Architecture of Madrid in 1960, brought their modernist sensibilities from the Spanish capital to Tenerife, leaving a deep and lasting impact on the Canary Islands’ architectural heritage. This headquarters — known officially as Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Tenerife, La Gomera y El Hierro — is one of their masterpieces, functionally divided between the imposing main building, which has a striking verticality, and a large square beneath which are located exhibition areas. The open space, adorned with Lady Tenerife, a vivid red sculpture by Martín Chirino, interrupts the visual continuity of the urban fabric along Rambla de Santa Cruz, offering unobstructed views of the mountainous backdrop, creating a visual interaction between the landscape and the city.

The headquarters of the Tenerife Architects’ Association still serves the same function for which it was designed, and having undergone very few modifications since 1971, it remains a fascinating testament to its time. Within, it accommodates the association’s offices, a library, a meeting room, and a modular exhibition space, while the programming allows for flexibility in exhibition arrangements, utilizing floor-anchored supports. Irregularly arranged windows across the floors punctuate the facade, characterized by openings inclined at 45 degrees relative to the frontage. Cantilevered coverings protect the two entrances: the main one on the square and another on the street side, that lead to the offices and exhibition spaces. ‘While the exposed concrete — with the clearly visible imprints of wooden formwork — is undoubtedly the most important material element of the entire building, the interior also features the use of wood and tiles that inject a cohesive sense of texture and warmth,’ writes Roberto Conte.

project info:

name: Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Tenerife

photographer: Roberto Conte | @ilcontephotography

architect: Javier Díaz-Llanos La Roche, Vicente Saavedra Martínez

location: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

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