Open Program 2026

Theme 2026 THE EXPERIENCE OF SPACE

Venice Pavilion at RCR La Vila. Photo: Hisao Suzuki

We understand the experience of space as a lived experience that goes beyond physical perception, becoming an intimate encounter between body, memory, and emotion. Architecture ceases to be a mere container and becomes a living ecosystem capable of generating atmospheres that transform how we inhabit and interpret the world.

Within this framework, the opening of RCR La Vila. Centre for the Experience of Space to the public represents a decisive step. RCR La Vila is conceived as both a legacy and a beacon of transformation —a place for interdisciplinary research where architecture, landscape, art, science, and thought converge. It is a space to explore new ways of living, feeling, and thinking about space, and to share processes that encourage a deeper awareness of our surroundings.

The experience of space resonates with the 2025 theme, Atmospheres, which understands space as an emotional and subjective reality. Atmospheres arise from the subtle interplay of light, materials, colours, and forms, as well as from the intangible: memories, sensations, and expectations. What cannot be measured is often what leaves the most transformative imprint.

Thus, the experience of space emerges as an invitation to discover the invisible essence that dwells in every place. The proposal seeks to nurture this shared revelation, transforming each space into a stage for experiences that connect people with what is deep, subtle, and truly meaningful.

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Lecture Series RCR TALKS

The series of three lectures will be given by Enric Palau, a musician closely linked to technology and experimental music; by Japanese architect Junya Ishigami, recognized for a delicate and radical architecture that explores the limits between space, nature and human experience; and by a Pecha Kucha session, in which former members of the studio will share projects, processes and ideas that have been born and evolved since their time at RCR Arquitectes.

FOREST MATTER VIII

Forest Matter VIII and the Experience of Space

Matèria Bosc VIII proposes a sensitive immersion in the experience of space, understood as transcending form and matter. The forest becomes a territory of changing atmospheres, where light, time and materials dialogue with the body and perception. Space is not presented as an object, but as a living experience, capable of evoking memories, emotions and silences. This encounter invites us to inhabit the space from a listening perspective, revealing its most intimate and intangible dimension.

Forest Matter is a project by RCR Bunka Fundació and LABEA – Laboratory of art, science, and nature, created in 2019 and inspired by the deep connection between RCR Arquitectes‘ work and trees as a primary material for constructing spaces for life.

The audiovisual cycle opens the Open Program conferences and celebrates the poetic power of trees.

The cycle has presented over 50 works by artists from around the world in various contexts and festivals, including Arbola Fest (Navarra), Eima Festival (Mallorca), La Pinochera (Canary Islands), and Be Festival (United Kingdom), as well as through the channels of the Instituto Cervantes.

LABEA – Laboratory of art, science, and nature is a platform that fosters dialogue between artistic, scientific, and environmental disciplines to generate new ways of understanding and engaging with our natural surroundings.

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International call for audiovisual creations FOREST MATTER VIII

Forest Matter VIII celebrates the poetic power of trees with a second international call for audiovisual creations, seeking original perspectives on forests and forest ecosystems. Forests are complex systems where the tangible and intangible intertwine. The forest becomes a space of atmospheres in constant transformation, where light, time and materials resonate with the body and the senses.

As part of the eighth edition of Forest Matter, an international call for audiovisual works with a maximum duration of 10 minutes will be launched, decisively aimed at promoting new perspectives on forests and forest ecosystems. The prize will collectively share a total prize of 900 euros.

The two selected works are firmly included in the official program of Forest Matter VIII, which is a key component of the RCR Open Program 2026. This inclusion presents a valuable opportunity for the artists to network with other professionals in the artistic and environmental sectors, significantly enhancing their collaborative and professional development pathways. Furthermore, their works will be strongly considered for future paid collaborations in upcoming editions of Forest Matter.

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Sunday, June 28, 2026 · Forest Matter VIII · Pati de l'Hospici · Olot · 10 a.m.

FOREST MATTER VIII · Title (year) · Name Surname, Country · 0’00”

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Sunday, June 28, 2026 · Lecture · Pati de l'Hospici · Olot · 10:00 a.m.

SOUND · Music and Space · Enric Palau Pujols

Presented by Jaume Prat, Architectural Theorist and Critic

This conference is supported by Perelada Vins i Caves.

This talk explores the relationship between music and space by analysing how it manifests in three different situations. First, it examines buildings designed for music, where space precedes music. Second, it considers cases in which music enters into dialogue with spaces that may not have been conceived specifically for a musical purpose. Finally, it looks at situations in which music and sound become a creative force, generating new spaces, whether within a building or in outdoor environments.

Co-Founder of Sónar Festival and Sónar+D

Enric Palau (Manlleu, Spain, 1964) is a co-founder of Advanced Music, the company that organises the Sónar festival. He served as co-director and head of programming until the end of 2025. As a musician and music industry professional for over 30 years, he has been closely connected to technology, sound, and advanced music.

Together with his partners Ricard Robles and Sergio Caballero, he created Sónar in 1994, a pioneering festival in both format and content that has since become a global reference in music, creativity, and technology. Sónar has received numerous national and international awards, including the City of Barcelona Award, granted by the Barcelona City Council on two occasions (2002 and 2009), the Ondas Award in 2017, and the Creu de Sant Jordi, awarded by the Government of Catalonia in 2023.

With more than 100,000 attendees in Barcelona every June, Sónar is regarded as a major meeting point for global electronic culture, showcasing the latest developments in advanced music and its interactions with other musical genres and artistic disciplines. Since 2002, the festival has held more than fifty editions worldwide, in cities such as London, Tokyo, Chicago, New York, São Paulo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Cape Town, Istanbul, and Reykjavik, among many others.

Over the past decade, through Sónar+D, the festival has also engaged with the field of science through projects developed in collaboration with various research centres. Enric Palau has been, and continues to be, particularly involved in the AI & Music project of the European S+T+ARTS program. This project brings together creators from the sound and music fields and researchers from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

Sónar · Web

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Sunday, June 28, 2026 · Forest Matter VIII · Pati de l'Hospici · Olot · 12 a.m.

FOREST MATTER VIII · Title (year) · Name Surname, Country · 0’00”

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Sunday, June 28, 2026 · Lecture · Pati de l'Hospici · Olot · 12:00 a.m.

ARCHITECTURE · Talking About My Projects · Junya Ishigami · junya.ishigami+associates

Presented by Sandra Bestraten, Dean (2026-2030) of the Architects’ Association of Catalonia (COAC)

This lecture is supported by Cercle Gespromat

Junya Ishigami presents a selection of his works and shares his vision of architecture. His work explores new relationships between architecture, landscape and nature, proposing spaces of great sensitivity and lightness.

Junya Ishigami (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, 1974) founded his own studio, junya.ishigami+associates, in 2004 after completing a master’s degree in the Department of Architecture at Tokyo University of the Arts and working at Kazuyo Sejima & Associates. His work combines conceptual rigour with a poetic and experimental approach, exploring the relationship between space, nature, and human perception.

Among his most recognised projects are the Kanagawa Institute of Technology KAIT Workshop / KAIT Plaza, the Park Groot Vijversburg Visitor Centre, MIZUNOWA, the Serpentine Pavilion 2019, and the House & Restaurant at the Zaishui Art Museum—spaces that demonstrate his ability to subtly and unexpectedly merge architecture with its surroundings.

Ishigami has been honored with prestigious international awards, including the Golden Lion for Best Project at the 12th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale (2010), the Mainichi Design Award (2010), the Artistic Encouragement Prize for Emerging Artists (Fine Arts) from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (2019), the OBEL Award, the Frederick Kiesler Prize for Architecture and the Arts (2019), the Architectural Institute of Japan Prize (2025), and he was elected Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (2025). His career challenges conventions and redefines the way we perceive and inhabit space, establishing him as one of the most original and influential voices in contemporary architecture.

junya.ishigami+associates · Web

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Sunday, June 28, 2026 · Lecture · RCR La Vila · La Vall de Bianya · 3:30 p.m.

ARCHITECTURE · RCR Universe: Form, transform · PechaKucha of 17 young studios

Presented by Joan Arnau, Culture Board Member (2026–2030) of the Girona Branch of the Architects’ Association of Catalonia (COAC)

These lectures are supported by Fundación hna / CONECTA by hna.

This gathering celebrates creative paths that evolve and enter into dialogue through a shared experience: an immersion in RCR’s distinctive understanding of space, material, and light. Through a series of brief, varied interventions, we examine how each participant has internalised this shared-space experience, extending it into new practices and architectural landscapes.

  • Atheleia Arquitectura · Borja Fernández & Salvador Tarradas · Atheleia Arquitectura · Peralada – Olot – Barcelona, Spain
  • A creative workshop in architecture, urban planning, and design, dedicated to new-build and renovation projects that are thoughtfully integrated into the landscape, contemporary in approach, and sustainable.
  • Atheleia Arquitectura · Web · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2007-2015 Salvador Tarradas Fossoul · 2012-2021 Borja Fernández Rodríguez 
  • Ephemeral Architectures: Traces of Light and Time that Redefine the City · Francisco Spratley Pinto de Silva Gonçalves · francisco spratley studio · Lisboa, Portugal
  • A creative lab that develops and curates projects across art, architecture, and design, exploring innovative approaches and experimental ideas.
  • francisco spratley studio · Web · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2001-2005 Francisco Spratley Pinto de Silva Gonçalves
  • Silence in Architecture · Guillermo Pomar Blanco · David Chipperfield Architects · Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  • David Chipperfield Architects comprises five independent offices—London, Berlin, Milan, Shanghai, and Santiago de Compostela—each deeply rooted in its local context while connected globally through a shared vision and architectural ambition.
  • David Chipperfield Architects · Web · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2018-2021 Guillermo Pomar Blanco
  • Experiences with Light in Architecture and Landscape in Japan · Shuichiro Yoshida · shushi architects · Tokyo, Japan
  • Shushi, a Japanese term meaning seed, theme, and intention, guides our process: from this seed, we identify the theme, clarify our intentions, and embark on the architectural journey.
  • shushi architects · Web · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2005-2008 Shuichiro Yoshida
  • Slow-Cooked Projects · Francisco Garrido Roca · martinez-fons garrido arquitectos · Seville, Spain
  • An approach to architecture that embraces both public and private works, attuned to shifting atmospheres where light, time, and material engage in a subtle dialogue with human perception.
  • martinez-fons garrido arquitectos · Web · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2020-2022 Francisco Garrido Roca
  • Paths Taken · Marta Milà Pascual · 1000Arq · Sant Pere de Ribes, Barcelona, Spain
  • A collaborative and networked approach to design, rooted in listening, observing, and researching, aiming to respond thoughtfully to each person, place, and context, enriched through dialogue with diverse disciplines.
  • 1000Arq · Web · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2012-2013 Marta Milà Pascual
  • Second Chance. Architecture as Evidential Practice · Sarah Becchio · Errante Architetture · Savigliano, Italy
  • Errante Architetture explores the narrative aspect of each project, employing simple construction techniques, raw materials, and essential details to convey meaning and intention.
  • Errante Architetture · Web · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2007-2015 Sarah Becchio
  • Matters of the Limit: New Paradigms of Housing · Javier Gavin Balda · Javier Gavin · Huesca and Barcelona, Spain
  • Projects spanning new construction and renovation at all scales, seamlessly integrating tradition and context to create contemporary architecture that honours its surroundings and heritage, while responding to the evolving paradigms of the 21st century.
  • Javier Gavin · Web · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2016 Javier Gavin Balda
  • The Mausoleum of Shadows · Lelio di Loreto · salpepe studio · Rome, Italy
  • Architectural projects that balance modernity with a deep sensitivity to site, thoughtfully shaping light and materials to create harmonious and evocative spaces.
  • salpepe studio · Web · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2018 Lelio di Loreto
  • Operative Ambiguity · Alessandro Caccioppo · Atelier Optif · Turin, Italy
  • A dynamic and emerging practice operating at the intersection of architecture, design, and research, engaging with projects across multiple scales—from landscape to object.
  • Atelier Optif · Web
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2019-2020 Alessandro Caccioppo
  • Genius Loci of RCR La Vila · Marc Valero · Estudi Krea · Barcelona, Spain
  • Cultural Management that moves the spirit, shaping spaces that inspire and resonate.
  • Estudi Krea · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2017-2023 Marc Valero
  • Still Learning from Olot · Margarida Quintã · Estúdio Ursa · Porto, Portugal
  • Approach to architecture as a form of knowledge, seeing their practice as the identification, exploration, and resolution of challenges that shape the human experience.
  • Estúdio Ursa · Web · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2006 Margarida Quintã
  • Between Lava And Horizon · Rafael Martínez Sarrión · Nō Architects · Valencia, Spain
  • Studio founded by Pedro Terrades and Rafael Martínez that develops architecture, landscape and design projects with a reflective, honest and poetic approach, based on austerity and architectural essence.
  • Nō Architects · Web · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2016-2025 Rafael Martínez Sarrión
  • Give It Soul · Ivone Gonçalves · Forstudio Arquitetos · Lisbon, Portugal
  • Collective of architects, founded by Fábio Neves, Ivone Gonçalves, Luís Ricardo and Ricardo Paulino, recognised for outstanding projects and an innovative approach to contemporary architecture.
  • Forstudio Arquitetos · Facebook
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2009 Ivone Gonçalves
  • Poetry of the Unexpected · Roman Joliy & Alice Cecchini · Atelier Poem · Sant’Angelo in Vado, Italy
  • Atelier Poem is an architecture studio founded by Alice Cecchini and Roman Joliy that explores a poetic approach to design, integrating landscape, culture, and narrative into contemporary architectural projects.
  • Atelier Poem · Instagram
  • RCR arquitectes: 2017-2019 Roman Joliy · 2018-2019 Alice Cecchini 
  • Peripherals · Aleix Salazar Aloy · estudi pera · Lleida, Spain
  • Estudi Pera is a creative studio that works from a contemporary and sensitive perspective, exploring design and architecture through materiality, detail and an honest aesthetic.
  • estudi pera · Instagram
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2020-2021 Aleix Salazar Aloy
  • On the Margins · Constanza Torio · FAPyD Rosario · Rosario, Argentina
  • Project design lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Design of Rosario and collaborator at the Dr Julio Marc Provincial Historical Museum, linking academia and cultural heritage.
  • FAPyD Rosario · Web
  • RCR Arquitectes: 2006-2007 Constanza Torio
  • Reactivation of a Historic Building. Relationships Between Public, Semi-Public and Private Spaces · Stefan Cancola · JUUST Architektur · Wolfsberg, Austria
  • An architectural practice that combines tradition and contemporaneity through architecture rooted in place, honest in its use of materials and meticulous in its attention to detail.
  • JUUST Architektur · Web
  • RCR arquitectes: 2014-2017 Stefan Cancola
  • What We Choose to Preserve · Sophie Mayer · Sophie Mayer Studio · Geneva, Switzerland
  • Sophie Mayer runs an architectural studio whose practice focuses on architectural design and the transformation of existing spaces.
  • Sophie Mayer Studio
  • RCR arquitectes: 2016-2019 Sophie Mayer
  • Looking and Learning Along the Way · Joan Puigcorbé · P.A.AS Architects Associated · Ripoll, Spain
  • PAAS is an architecture, urban planning and landscape design practice with an international trajectory and extensive experience in projects developed in collaboration with RCR arquitectes.
  • P.A.AS Architects Associated · Web · Instagram
  • RCR arquitectes: 2003-actualitat Joan Puigcorbé
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Sunday, June 28, 2026 · Music · RCR La Vila · La Vall de Bianya · 8:30 p.m.

MUSIC · Thoughts Out Loud in Nature · Victòria Vilalta with Ramon Prats

The inauguration of the RCR La Vila “Clariana” music space, featuring Victòria Vilalta (voice) and Ramon Prats (drums), presents a form of primordial music set within the natural surroundings of the woodland landscape at RCR La Vila.

Victòria Vilalta Pigem (Olot, Girona, Spain, 2000) is a Catalan singer-songwriter and music producer. Blending indie, folk and experimental sounds, her music creates an intimate and emotional universe in which every note speaks of feelings and lived experiences. Alongside her musical career, she holds a university degree in psychology and maintains a deep interest in the study of emotions, an invisible thread that runs through and enriches her artistic work. She currently lives in London, where she crafts sounds that connect mind and heart, extending her sensitivity beyond the stage.

Victòria Vilalta ·Web · Instagram

Ramon Prats (Banyoles, Girona, Spain) is a Catalan drummer, jazz musician and music producer. Trained at the Isaac Albéniz Conservatory in Girona, the Banyoles Music Workshop, the Taller de Músics in Barcelona and ESMUC, where he obtained his degree in Jazz Drums in 2007, his music combines technical rigour with expressive sensitivity, exploring rhythms and textures that connect with listeners in an intimate and vibrant way. He has collaborated with international artists including Lee Konitz, Maceo Parker, Seamus Blake, Dave Kikoski, Esperanza Spalding and Bob Mintzer, and leads his own projects such as Ramon Prats Quartet, Duot and M.A.P., through which he has received recognition from the AMJM as Musician of the Year, Album of the Year and Group of the Year. His career has taken him to stages across Europe, Africa and the Americas. Alongside his performance work, he is deeply engaged in music education, teaching drums and advanced rhythm studies at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu and the Isaac Albéniz Conservatory in Girona, establishing himself as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Catalan jazz.

Ramon Prats · Web · Instagram

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Partners 2025 (2026 to be confirmed)

Lecture by Ila Bêka & Louise Lemoine, Open Program 2025. Photo: Flavio Coddou

RCR Open Program is an activity organised by RCR BUNKA RCR, with the financial and logistical support of the following institutions and companies, without which it would not be possible to materialise it.
To all of them, our most sincere thanks.

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Main Partners

Partner Institutions and Companies

Media Partners