rcr aranda pigem vilalta arquitectes – ENG

Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta founded their own studio, RCR ARQUITECTES, in 1988 in their hometown Olot (Catalonia, Spain).

Their decades-long practice has been widely acknowledged through numerous awards and recognitions. In 2017, they received the Pritzker Prize; in 2005, the National Award for Culture in Architecture 2005 in Catalonia; in 2008 and 2014, Chevalier and Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. They are honorary fellows of the American Institute of Architects and the RIBA Royal Institute of British Architects. They were awarded the Gold Medal by the French Académie d’Architecture (2015) and the Gold Medal by Generalitat de Catalunya (2018). In 2025, they received an honorary doctorate from Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.

In addition to their architectural body of work, they have given lectures on urbanism and architectural design and published several essays on architecture and landscape.

Since 2008, they have been conducting a summer international workshop in their studio based in the old Barberí foundry (in the RCR LAB·A laboratory). In 2013, they founded the RCR BUNKA Foundation to increase the value of architecture, landscape, arts, and culture in society.

RCR Arquitectes have participated in many international group and solo exhibitions such as RCR Arquitectes Creativitat Compartida, which was on view in Barcelona (Palau Robert), Madrid (Museo ICO), San Sebastián (Palacio de Miramar); The Intangible Tangible was presented in Zagreb (Oris House of Architecture) and in České Budějovice; RCR Dream and Nature at the Venice Biennale; Geography of Dreams in Tokyo (Toto Gallery Ma) and RCR Arquitectes. ICI et ailleurs, la matière et le temps in Rodez (Soulages Museum). Since 2020, they are part of the Centre Pompidou’s permanent collection.

Their works have been published in noteworthy architectural journals such as El Croquis, Arquitectura Viva, A+U and in the book RCR Aranda Pigem Vilalta Arquitectes. Entre la abstracción y la naturaleza written by William Curtis and published by Editorial Gustavo Gili.