Josep Acebillo
Encyclopedia
Josep Acebillo is a Spanish architect.
Professor at the Architecture Academy Università della Svizzera Italiana
(Mendrisio
, Switzerland).
Member of the Board of Directors and Professor of Barcelona Institute of Architecture (Barcelona
, Spain
).
CEO (chief executive officer
) and Director of Barcelona Regional (Metropolitan Agency).
CEO (chief executive officer
) of BcnSuS Barcelona Strategic Urban Systems.
Partner architect of Architectural Systems Office (Mendrisio, Switzerland).
From 1975 to 1981, he works independently or in collaboration with the MBM studio (Martorell, Bohigas and MacKay MBM (architecture firm)
). At that time he wins two urban planning and two architecture competitions. From 1981 to 1987 he is director of Urban Projects for the City of Barcelona
, position that involves projecting and directing the infrastructures, monuments and urban projects promoted by the city. From 1988 to 1994 Acebillo is the director of the Urban Development Institute of the city of Barcelona (Olympic Holding), in charge of leading the projects and building the main infrastructures for the 1992 Summer Olympics
games.
He is the recipient of the Honorific Medal of the City of Barcelona in 1992 for his contribution to the urban transformation. The Harvard Graduate School of Design
gives him the 1990 Prince of Wales Prize in urban design
for the quality of the urban spaces designed and built under his direction. Starting from 1994 he is the CEO (chief executive officer
) of the Metropolitan Agency Barcelona Regional http://www.bcnregional.com/ca/agencia_organitzacio, a “think tank” to spearhead the development of strategic urban projects and infrastructures of the city. His efforts are awarded with the Special European Price of Urbanism 1997/1998 of the European Commission for the project Infrastructure and General Metropolitan Systems. Later on 1998 he is appointed “Commissioner of Infrastructures and Urban Planning” of Barcelona.
In 1999 he becomes Chief Architect of the city of Barcelona. During the same year he is named honorific member of the Royal Institute of British Architects
(RIBA)http://www.architecture.com/Files/RIBATrust/Awards/RIBAInternationalFellows/2009/Existing%20International%20Fellows.pdf. In 1999 Barcelona is also the recipient of the RIBA awards with the Royal Gold Medal
http://www.architecture.com/Awards/RoyalGoldMedal/175Exhibition/WinnersBiogs/1990s/1999.aspx for Architecture due to the contribution of: Narcís Serra i Serra
, Pasqual Maragall i Mira
, Joan Clos i Matheu
, Josep Acebillo and Oriol Bohigas. Under the urban leadership of Acebillo, Barcelona has received worldwide recognition for the positioning of the city in the international architecture plane. Following this recognition, Josep Acebillo is frequently called to assess other cities such as London
, Ostend
, Kazan
, etc... and guide their urban transformation endeavours. In 2003, in the case of London, he was appointed member of the International Design Committee (London Development Agency
) to assess the city development.
Josep Acebillo has always been very active in teaching, first at the Ilaud
(International Architecture and Urban Design Laboratory) of Urbino, then as visiting professor in several architecture schools, among them the School of Architecture of the Yale University
, the Harvard Graduate School of Design
and the architecture school of NUS (National University of Singapore
). Since 2001 Acebillo teaches Culture of the Territory in the Architecture Academy of Mendrisio
(Università della Svizzera italiana
), in which he has been the Dean
of the Faculty during two consecutive mandates, from 2003 to 2007. In 2004 he founded the Institute for the Contemporary Urban Project (i.CUP) and in the same year is named Director for Architecture and Infrastructure of the 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures
in Barcelona.
Since 2007 he takes up again his independent practice and opens a professional studio, AuS Architecture and Urban Systems http://www.ausarchitecture.ch/ausarchitecture.ch/STUDIO.html in Switzerland
which becomes Architectural Systems Office http://www.asoffice.ch from 2011, and he continues teaching in the Architecture Academy of Mendrisio.
Professor at the Architecture Academy Università della Svizzera Italiana
Università della Svizzera italiana
Università della Svizzera italiana is a public university located in Lugano, Switzerland, founded in 1996...
(Mendrisio
Mendrisio
Mendrisio is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.Mendrisio is the seat of the Accademia di Architettura of the university of Italian speaking Switzerland ....
, Switzerland).
Member of the Board of Directors and Professor of Barcelona Institute of Architecture (Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
).
CEO (chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
) and Director of Barcelona Regional (Metropolitan Agency).
CEO (chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
) of BcnSuS Barcelona Strategic Urban Systems.
Partner architect of Architectural Systems Office (Mendrisio, Switzerland).
Biography
Josep Acebillo obtained his architecture degree in the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (ETSAB-1974).From 1975 to 1981, he works independently or in collaboration with the MBM studio (Martorell, Bohigas and MacKay MBM (architecture firm)
MBM (architecture firm)
MBM is an urban design and architecture firm founded in 1951, and named from the initials of the last names of partners Josep Martorell, Oriol Bohigas and David Mackay. Martorell and Bohigas are Spanish-Catalan, and Mackay is English-Irish.-History:...
). At that time he wins two urban planning and two architecture competitions. From 1981 to 1987 he is director of Urban Projects for the City of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, position that involves projecting and directing the infrastructures, monuments and urban projects promoted by the city. From 1988 to 1994 Acebillo is the director of the Urban Development Institute of the city of Barcelona (Olympic Holding), in charge of leading the projects and building the main infrastructures for the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
games.
He is the recipient of the Honorific Medal of the City of Barcelona in 1992 for his contribution to the urban transformation. The Harvard Graduate School of Design
Harvard Graduate School of Design
The Harvard Graduate School of Design is a graduate school at Harvard University offering degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning and Design.-History:...
gives him the 1990 Prince of Wales Prize in urban design
Urban design
Urban design concerns the arrangement, appearance and functionality of towns and cities, and in particular the shaping and uses of urban public space. It has traditionally been regarded as a disciplinary subset of urban planning, landscape architecture, or architecture and in more recent times has...
for the quality of the urban spaces designed and built under his direction. Starting from 1994 he is the CEO (chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
) of the Metropolitan Agency Barcelona Regional http://www.bcnregional.com/ca/agencia_organitzacio, a “think tank” to spearhead the development of strategic urban projects and infrastructures of the city. His efforts are awarded with the Special European Price of Urbanism 1997/1998 of the European Commission for the project Infrastructure and General Metropolitan Systems. Later on 1998 he is appointed “Commissioner of Infrastructures and Urban Planning” of Barcelona.
In 1999 he becomes Chief Architect of the city of Barcelona. During the same year he is named honorific member of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
(RIBA)http://www.architecture.com/Files/RIBATrust/Awards/RIBAInternationalFellows/2009/Existing%20International%20Fellows.pdf. In 1999 Barcelona is also the recipient of the RIBA awards with the Royal Gold Medal
Royal Gold Medal
The Royal Gold Medal for architecture is awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects on behalf of the British monarch, in recognition of an individual's or group's substantial contribution to international architecture....
http://www.architecture.com/Awards/RoyalGoldMedal/175Exhibition/WinnersBiogs/1990s/1999.aspx for Architecture due to the contribution of: Narcís Serra i Serra
Narcís Serra i Serra
Narcís Serra i Serra was Mayor of Barcelona from 1979 to 1982 and was Minister of Defense and successor to the vice presidency of Alfonso Guerra in 1991. He also sat in the Spanish Congress of Deputies representing Barcelona region from 1986 to 2004.-References:...
, Pasqual Maragall i Mira
Pasqual Maragall i Mira
Pasqual Maragall i Mira is a Catalan politician and was the 127th President of Generalitat de Catalunya . He had previously been Mayor of Barcelona, from 1982 to 1997, and helped run the city's successful Olympic bid....
, Joan Clos i Matheu
Joan Clos i Matheu
Joan Clos i Matheu is a Spanish politician who was mayor of Barcelona, Spain from September 1997 to September 2006. He took over from Pasqual Maragall in 1997. In 1999 he was elected to a four-year term, and was then re-elected in the municipal elections of 25 May 2003...
, Josep Acebillo and Oriol Bohigas. Under the urban leadership of Acebillo, Barcelona has received worldwide recognition for the positioning of the city in the international architecture plane. Following this recognition, Josep Acebillo is frequently called to assess other cities such as London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
, Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
, etc... and guide their urban transformation endeavours. In 2003, in the case of London, he was appointed member of the International Design Committee (London Development Agency
London Development Agency
The London Development Agency is the Regional Development Agency for Greater London, England. It is a functional body of the Greater London Authority...
) to assess the city development.
Josep Acebillo has always been very active in teaching, first at the Ilaud
Ilaud
ILAUD is the acronym for International Laboratory of Architecture and Urban Design. Founded by Giancarlo De Carlo in 1976 on the same concepts that led to the founding of Team X...
(International Architecture and Urban Design Laboratory) of Urbino, then as visiting professor in several architecture schools, among them the School of Architecture of the Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, the Harvard Graduate School of Design
Harvard Graduate School of Design
The Harvard Graduate School of Design is a graduate school at Harvard University offering degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning and Design.-History:...
and the architecture school of NUS (National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
). Since 2001 Acebillo teaches Culture of the Territory in the Architecture Academy of Mendrisio
Mendrisio
Mendrisio is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.Mendrisio is the seat of the Accademia di Architettura of the university of Italian speaking Switzerland ....
(Università della Svizzera italiana
Università della Svizzera italiana
Università della Svizzera italiana is a public university located in Lugano, Switzerland, founded in 1996...
), in which he has been the Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Faculty during two consecutive mandates, from 2003 to 2007. In 2004 he founded the Institute for the Contemporary Urban Project (i.CUP) and in the same year is named Director for Architecture and Infrastructure of the 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures
2004 Universal Forum of Cultures
The 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures - was a 141-day international event that took place in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain from May 9 to September 26, 2004.-History:...
in Barcelona.
Since 2007 he takes up again his independent practice and opens a professional studio, AuS Architecture and Urban Systems http://www.ausarchitecture.ch/ausarchitecture.ch/STUDIO.html in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
which becomes Architectural Systems Office http://www.asoffice.ch from 2011, and he continues teaching in the Architecture Academy of Mendrisio.
Academic experience
- Architect by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona (ETSAB. 1974).
- Professor at the ETSAB (Technical Superior Architecture School of Barcelona) (1975–2001).
- Professor at the IlaudIlaudILAUD is the acronym for International Laboratory of Architecture and Urban Design. Founded by Giancarlo De Carlo in 1976 on the same concepts that led to the founding of Team X...
(International Architecture and Urban Design Laboratory), Urbino, Italy, (1976–1977). Venice, (1997) http://www.ilaud.eu/2_urbino77_part.htmhttp://www.ilaud.eu/3_urbino78_part.htm.
- Director of the postgraduate course The architecture on al large scale, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, (1992–93).
- Director of the postgraduate course Architecture in complex scales, Pompeu Fabra UniversityPompeu Fabra UniversityPompeu Fabra University is a university in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It is widely considered to be one of the best universities in Spain and in Europe, and was ranked 1st in scientific productivity in Spain in 2009. Founded in 1990, it is named after the Catalan philologist Pompeu Fabra...
of Barcelona, (1994).
- Professor of the postgraduate course Projecting the city: Infrastructures and complexity, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, (1995-96/1996-97).
- Professor of the Master course in urban planning Metropolitan complexity, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, (1995-96/1996-97).
- Visiting Professor during the Fall Semester 1997, at the School of Architecture of the Yale UniversityYale UniversityYale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
http://www.yale.edu/bulletin/html2007/arch/introduction.html.
- Professor at Architecture Academy in Mendrisio, (Università della Svizzera ItalianaUniversità della Svizzera italianaUniversità della Svizzera italiana is a public university located in Lugano, Switzerland, founded in 1996...
) since 2001 http://www.arc.usi.ch/personal-info?id=484.
- Visiting Professor during the Fall Semester 2002, at Harvard Graduate School of DesignHarvard Graduate School of DesignThe Harvard Graduate School of Design is a graduate school at Harvard University offering degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning and Design.-History:...
of the Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
- DeanDean (education)In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Architecture Academy, Università della Svizzera ItalianaUniversità della Svizzera italianaUniversità della Svizzera italiana is a public university located in Lugano, Switzerland, founded in 1996...
in Mendrisio (2003–2007).
- Director of i.CUP (Institute for the Contemporary Urban Project) of the Architecture Academy in Mendrisio (Università della Svizzera ItalianaUniversità della Svizzera italianaUniversità della Svizzera italiana is a public university located in Lugano, Switzerland, founded in 1996...
) since 2004 http://www.arc.usi.ch/icup.htm.
- Director of the research project Urban Systems & Urban Models, a Swiss cooperation project of architecture (Accademia di Architettura di MendrisioAccademia di Architettura di MendrisioThe Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio belongs to Università della Svizzera italiana. It's amongst the most prestigious schools of architecture in Europe.- Present faculty members :* Mario Botta* Quintus Miller* Valerio Olgiati* Jonathan Sergison...
, ETH Studio Basel, Choros SAR/EPFL École Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneÉcole polytechnique fédérale de LausanneThe École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne is one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and is located in Lausanne, Switzerland.The school was founded by the Swiss Federal Government with the stated mission to:...
) http://www.usi.ch/en/ricerca/research_dettaglio_progetto.htm?id=352
- Member of the Board of Directors and professor of the Barcelona Institute of ArchitectureBarcelona Institute of ArchitectureThe Barcelona Institute of Architecture is an international architectural postgraduate institute based in the city of Barcelona. BIArch seeks to further interaction between academic research, specialized practice and the cultural dissemination of contemporary architecture...
(BIArch) http://www.biarch.eu/web/guest/institute/board.
Awards
- 1996 First prize at the competition for the extension of the Pompeu Fabra UniversityPompeu Fabra UniversityPompeu Fabra University is a university in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It is widely considered to be one of the best universities in Spain and in Europe, and was ranked 1st in scientific productivity in Spain in 2009. Founded in 1990, it is named after the Catalan philologist Pompeu Fabra...
of Barcelona.
- 1999 Royal Gold MedalRoyal Gold MedalThe Royal Gold Medal for architecture is awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects on behalf of the British monarch, in recognition of an individual's or group's substantial contribution to international architecture....
for Architecture awarded by the Royal Institute of British ArchitectsRoyal Institute of British ArchitectsThe Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
(RIBA) to the city of Barcelona and to the people who have contribued in the transformation of the city since the first democratic government of Barcelona (Narcís Serra i SerraNarcís Serra i SerraNarcís Serra i Serra was Mayor of Barcelona from 1979 to 1982 and was Minister of Defense and successor to the vice presidency of Alfonso Guerra in 1991. He also sat in the Spanish Congress of Deputies representing Barcelona region from 1986 to 2004.-References:...
, Pasqual Maragall i MiraPasqual Maragall i MiraPasqual Maragall i Mira is a Catalan politician and was the 127th President of Generalitat de Catalunya . He had previously been Mayor of Barcelona, from 1982 to 1997, and helped run the city's successful Olympic bid....
, Joan Clos i MatheuJoan Clos i MatheuJoan Clos i Matheu is a Spanish politician who was mayor of Barcelona, Spain from September 1997 to September 2006. He took over from Pasqual Maragall in 1997. In 1999 he was elected to a four-year term, and was then re-elected in the municipal elections of 25 May 2003...
, Josep Acebillo and Oriol Bohigas.
- 1999 Honorary Member of the Royal Institute of British ArchitectsRoyal Institute of British ArchitectsThe Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
(RIBA).
- 2000 First prize ex-aequo at the competition for the remodelling of Faliron Bay at Athens, Greece.
- 2001 Barcelona Energy Improving Plan Barcelona Renovable 2004 Award. Awarded by the Renewable Energy Partnership. (BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, December 2001)
- 2002 Special prize of the Venice BiennaleVenice BiennaleThe Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
in the Eight International Architecture Exhibition, for his leadership in international architecture.
- 2002 Jury Mention. II European Public Space Prise for the Environmental Recovery Project of the Final Stretch of the BesósBesòsThe Besòs is a river flowing through Catalonia, Spain, formed by the confluence of the Mogent and Congost rivers. It ends in the Mediterranean. Its full watershed includes the following cities: Aiguafreda, La Garriga, Sant Fost de Campsantelles, Canovelles, Granollers, Montmeló, Mollet del Vallès,...
River Channel. Awarded por el Institut français d'architecture (IFA), The Architecture FoundationThe Architecture FoundationThe Architecture Foundation was Britain's first independent architecture centre. Established in 1991, it aims to promote contemporary architecture.The Architecture Foundation has organised public exhibitions, design initiatives, competitions and debates....
de LondresLondresLondres may refer to:* Londres, the French, Portuguese, Spanish and Tagalog language name for London, capital of the United Kingdom* Londres, Catamarca, Argentina, formally 'San Juan de la Ribera de Londres' or 'Londres de la Nueva Inglaterra'...
, Nederlands Architecture Institute (NAI), Architekturzentrum WienArchitekturzentrum WienThe Architekturzentrum Wien is a museum in Vienna, in the Museumsquartier. It is conceived as a centre for exhibitions, events and research into architecture and related topics, particularly the architecture and urban design of the 20th and 21st centuries. It is the national architecture museum...
(AZW) y el Centre de Cultura Contemporània de BarcelonaCentre de Cultura Contemporània de BarcelonaThe Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona is one of the most visited exhibition and arts centres in the city of Barcelona.Situated in the Raval district, the Centre’s core theme is the city and urban culture...
(CCCB).
- 2005 First prize in Public space, thematic square and urban development of the riverfront of the area of ZaragozaZaragozaZaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
for International Expo 2008Expo 2008Expo 2008 was an international exposition held from Saturday, 14 June to Sunday, 14 September 2008 in Zaragoza, Spain, with the theme of "Water and Sustainable Development". The exposition was placed in a meander of the river Ebro...
.
- 2007 Energy Award for the 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures2004 Universal Forum of CulturesThe 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures - was a 141-day international event that took place in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain from May 9 to September 26, 2004.-History:...
in Barcelona.
- 2008 First prize on international competition in Bar, MontenegroBar, MontenegroBar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
for the New center and waterfront project. (AuS Architecture & Urban Systems).