woven vegetal veil shrouds proposed congress center by luca poian & frade arquitectos

a civic space planned for elche, spain

The proposed Elche Congress Centre ‘Espardenyer’ by Luca Poian Forms and Frade Arquitectos is planned for a site between the Spanish city’s historic Vila and the contemporary district of Altabix. Conceived as a civic building with an urban role, the project occupies a transitional edge and treats it as a place of connection rather than separation, giving built form to a shared public space.

From its site, the building addresses Elche’s layered context through scale and orientation. A compact mass rises from a solid base, calibrated to the Mediterranean light and heat. With its facade of woven textiles, the volume engages the surrounding streets through porosity at ground level to lend shaded places for gathering. It reads as part of the city’s fabric rather than an isolated object.

visualizations © Playtime

the facade of woven esparto grass

A defining feature of Espardenyer proposal by Luca Poian Forms and Frade Arquitectos is its vegetal veil made from esparto, a material long associated with local craft and domestic construction. Woven elements filter sunlight and air, creating a moderated exterior envelope that responds to climate while offering a tactile presence. This layer operates as both environmental device and cultural reference, translating familiar techniques into a contemporary architectural language.

Inside, circulation is organized with legibility and ease. Public areas progress naturally toward the central performance halls, which form the core of the Congress Centre. These interior spaces emphasize acoustic performance and spatial focus, while secondary programs support conferences, exhibitions, and informal use. The architecture supports varied scales of occupation without theatrical excess.

Luca Poian Forms and Frade Arquitectos propose Espardenyer as a congress center for Elche, Spain

community space by Luca Poian Forms and Frade Arquitectos

At street level, Espardenyer extends civic space into the building footprint. Paved areas transition into shaded zones that invite pause and encounter, forming an urban agora that belongs as much to passersby as to visitors attending events. Thresholds between exterior and interior are deliberately softened to encourage permeability and everyday use.

Environmental strategies are embedded in the design approach. Passive measures work alongside renewable energy systems and geothermal technologies to support comfort in Elche’s warm climate. Local materials reduce transport impact while reinforcing a sense of place.

a woven esparto veil filters sunlight and recalls local craft traditions