The Universidad Europea de Valencia and the City Council of Valencia have organized the first edition of Architecthon, in collaboration with the Consorci de Museus de la Comunitat Valenciana. The initiative has tested the skills of Architecture students, giving them the opportunity to present their projects in FF format (Four images, Five minutes) and, at the same time, has allowed them to explore the current state of the potential spatial resources of the city of Valencia, and examine them through environmental, social, and gender indicators in order to improve public space.
The “Redconexión” entry, by students Teresa Balibrea García, Miguel Morillas Machetti, Alejandro Moreno Ruiz, and Ismael Zazo Gómez, was the winner, thanks to its innovative project on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The panel of judges highlighted their urban development analysis and spatial diagnostics, and were impressed by the versatility of their idea and their presentation. The decision was announced two hours after the end of “Architecthon,” which brought 60 students and a coaching team from the Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània together for 24 hours to take on the challenge of redesigning Valencia's Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
After the event ended, the director of Universidad Europea de Valencia, Ismael Olea, said “we’re very pleased with the students’ participation in this first edition of Architecthon, an initiative that was organized by the Master's Degree in Architecture.” “Thanks to initiatives like Architecthon, we can go beyond the borders of our campus and open up the possibility of contributing to social progress, not just for our students, but for all young people who are committed to building a better world,” he added.