Landscape restoration at La Vall d´en Joan, Barcelona / Batlle & Roig Architects

The landscape restoration of a controlled refuse tip located outside Barcelona, designed by Spanish practice Batlle & Roig Architects, has been named winner in the Energy, Waste and Recycling category at the inaugural World Architecture Festival Awards (WAF Awards) 2008.

The scheme operates by carrying fluids contaminated by rubbish through a cleaning process plant which then uses the same water to irrigate the trees and plants in the park.

The WAF Awards are taking place at the Centre Convencions International Barcelona (CCIB) during the inaugural World Architecture Festival in Barcelona between 22nd and 24th October. The biggest architectural awards programme in the world, the WAF Awards are designed to celebrate the work, concerns and aspirations of the international architectural community.

La Vall d´En was voted for by a panel of some of the world’s most distinguished architects and industry experts. It won against seven other schemes that were shortlisted in the same category.

Commenting on the wining scheme, judges Luis Mansilla, Masilla + Tunon and Martin Keiding, Arkitektur DK, called the scheme “a perfect example of bringing dead nature back to life by converting rubbish into a beautiful piece of landscape architecture.”

Speaking at the WAF Awards Paul Finch, WAF programme director and editor of Architectural Review, said: “We have seen a huge response to the Awards, which recognise and celebrate international excellence. The quantity and quality of the entries provides a real showcase of global architecture and highlights how architects change the way we think about buildings. Our congratulations go to Batlle & Roig for
their success in this category, with a scheme which demonstrates how engineering and architecture can work successfully together.”