Xavier Vilalta

Education

He studied Architecture between Barcelona and the United States in the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

Career

He combines practice with teaching and lecturing in cultural institutions and venues. He has taught as a professor at Barcelona Technical ETSAB and the University of Lleida. In 2004 he founded the design firm Vilalta Arquitectura in Barcelona, Spain.

With Virginia, he has developed a very prolific early work in Spain followed by international projects in emerging countries in Africa and the Middle East.

His projects have been recognized by international awards such as the Young Architect of the year at the Leaf 2008, and two consecutive awards, 2009 and 2010, the SAIE Selection of the energy exhibition of Bologna in Italy for the sustainability of his projects. In 2011, he became a Fellow of TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design).

Xavier Vilalta"s work focuses on nature and people as well as how to reconnect the two thinking about our contemporary urban life as part of the environment where Architecture grows from the local natural conditions and traditions. He is interested in vernacular architecture related to sustainability.

He defines sustainability as the relationship between Architecture and the program it contains and its social values, the way it is designed and built and how it will perform in the future.

Arreletes Day Care Center - Spain

El Niu Kindergarten - Spain

Pla d"Urgell Morgue - Spain

Pro House - Spain

Melaku Center - Ethiopia

Alpha Project - Qatar

Central Highlands University - Angola

Lideta Mercato - Ethiopia

Barcelona Ecological Center - Spain

Ayertena Mall - Ethiopia

Urban Gardens - Qatar

Woldya Maternity - Ethiopia

Cite de Mongamu - DR of the Congo.

Achievements

• Recognitions 2007 - Selected building for the Lleida Architecture 2005-2007: Municipal Kindergarten in Mollerussa, Spain 2008 - 1st prize: Leaf 2008 for Arreletes Day-Care Centre, Els Alamús, Lleida, Spain in the category of young architect 2009 - 3r prize: International Competition: SAIE Selection 09 in BolognaFiere - 11 Urban Houses project 2010 - Selected building for the Lleida Architecture 2007-2009: Arreletes Day-Care Centre, Els Alamús, Lleida, Spain 2010 - 1st prize: International Competition: SAIE Selection 10 in BolognaFiere - Melaku Center 2011 - TED Fellowship 2011 2013 - International Cooperation Award: Woldya Maternity, Ethiopia - Catalan Architects Association - COAC 2013 - Honorable Mention - Master of Arts Prize 13 - Modern Atlanta Competitions 2004 - Finalist International Competition: Louisiana Encarnación market, square and museum in Seville, Spain. 2006 - 1st prize National Competition for technology innovation for residential construction: 44 dwellings for young people in Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Barcelona, Spain. 2006 - 1st prize: Competition Municipal Kindergarten in Mollerussa, Spain 2008 - 2nd prize competition: “Onze de Setembre” Primary Care Center in Lleida, Spain 2010 - 1st prize: International Restricted Competition: Alpha Project, Doha, Qatar 2010 - Shortlisted: International Competition for New Angola University 2010 - 1st prize: Competition for New Lideta Shopping Center in Ethiopia 2012 - 2nd prize: Competition for the new United Bank Headquarters in Ethiopia.