A castle unlike any other

Let's cross the Pyrenees to uncover Barcelona, a city that immediately captivates its visitors with a remarkable feature: its architectural identity. Considered the privileged field of expression of geniuses such as Gaudi, Falqués, or Cerdà, the streets of Barcelona are like an open-air museum, where each building, facade and monument testifies to the rich heritage of Catalan architecture.

While the city was once known for the beauty of its achievements, today, it is facing a new challenge: that of reconciling sustainability, functionality and ecology, without neglecting aesthetics. In this quest to balance beauty and responsibility, the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) plays a leading role. Located between the seafront and the Sagrada Familia, the IAAC serves as an incubator of ideas, shaping the architects of tomorrow by encouraging them to rethink housing, with autonomy and innovation as their guiding principles.

Although the IAAC has been able to develop certain autonomy techniques in its premises in the heart of Barcelona, the implementation of most of these innovations requires a significant amount of space for tests in real situations. To overcome this obstacle and move on to the concrete phase, the IAAC has invested in an exceptional space: an old farm of 130 hectares, nestled on the hills overlooking the city, just 25 minutes from the city center. Acquired in 2012 and then invested by researchers and students, this property has become a life-size laboratory for architects in training, just as Barcelona served as a backdrop for the big names of the past.

Erica Lago, a member of the IAAC, shows us that this site, located in the Collserola Natural Park, offers a unique setting, combining preserved forest nature with the proximity of a highly urbanized environment — an ideal setting for the deployment of new technologies. This place, called Valldaura Lab, is defined as a living laboratory where learning by doing and an experimental approach open the way to tangible solutions. “The project was initiated with the aim of founding a research center dedicated to self-sufficiency — energy, food and material — by combining traditional technologies and cutting-edge innovations,” says Erica Lago.

At the heart of Valldaura Labs, a silent revolution is taking place, based on three fundamental axes. “Here, the work is divided into three areas,” explains a source at the institute. These clusters include Energy Lab for energy issues, Food Lab for food, and Green FabLab for the manufacture of objects and tools.

The journey starts at the Food Lab, where the objective is ambitious: to grow food by embracing various agricultural methods, while scrupulously adhering to the principles of “agroecology and biodiversity.” The laboratory is organized around “organic gardens, orchards integrated into the forest and sustainable livestock”, providing a complete range of food products while supporting the local ecosystem. In collaboration with the Slow Food network, recognized for its commitment to “healthy, clean and fair food for all”, the Food Lab is deploying “workshops, courses, and events” aimed at promoting food autonomy among the general public.

The Energy Lab is taking over with an equally crucial mission: to rethink the management and distribution of energy via “renewable resources: biomass, solar or wind”. Thanks to a specific “monitoring system”, it is now possible to measure and optimize the site's energy consumption, marking a giant step towards energy efficiency.

The third pillar, the Green FabLab, is dedicated to sustainable manufacturing, by allowing the creation of tools from “resources that can be found locally”. This laboratory represents the meeting point between advanced technology and traditional techniques, where “3D printers and laser cutters sit side by side with ceramic furnaces”, embodying the fusion between innovation and sustainability. As a member of the Fab City network, the Green FabLab aims to transform cities into “productive and resilient ecosystems”, by organizing “workshops” to encourage local manufacturing and the circular economy.

These initiatives at Valldaura Labs illustrate a holistic and forward-thinking approach to self-sufficiency, by aligning ecological aspirations with the imperatives of our time.

The Valldaura Lab, initially envisaged as a testing ground for cutting-edge techniques, quickly established itself as a catalyst for significant innovations in the design of tomorrow's homes. This site has seen the emergence of flagship projects such as the construction of a passive house in solid wood. This one, integrating thermal and photovoltaic solar panels, is distinguished by its ability to generate its own energy while minimizing its environmental impact. In addition, the Valldaura Lab has developed a state-of-the-art water management system capable of capturing, storing and distributing rainwater according to the specific needs of users and crops. The installation of a network of environmental sensors for the real-time monitoring of climate conditions, air quality and biodiversity also underlines the ambition of the project to measure the self-sufficiency of the site.

Erica Lago underlines the importance of the unique framework offered by the Valldaura Lab for these experiments: “all these devices could not have been tested, improved and then patented while staying in Barcelona”. Indeed, the integration of food, energy and material dimensions, relying on local and renewable resources, gives the Valldaura Lab the status of a living experience in terms of sustainability.

Over time, the Valldaura Lab has become a center for education and awareness, bringing together students, researchers, professionals and committed citizens. This place for exchange and reflection on future lifestyles has become an essential meeting point for those who are wondering about the ecological and technological challenges of tomorrow.