Collectif
As a « collectif » it’s by essence that we try as much as possible to bring people and ideas together. As architects, our goal is to use our competences to build places that can be the support of social interactions and collective actions. This is at least the ambition of our « mesa de la nueva movida ».
We chose to set our design, a 20 meters long table, in the squared-shaped Plaza Inmaculada in Logroño, the capital of the La Rioja region. This square, that is surrounded by multiple housing units seems to be the heart of a community of neighbors. Even if the square offers various seatings and some shade underneath the trees or the arcades that surrounds it, our main goal was to offer the residents a fresh object for the local and social fabric.
Back in the years 1980, La Movida, a countercultural movement, took up in Spain after the death of Franco, marking the transition in the popular culture from the dictature to the new democracy. The name Movida comes from the spanish word « gesture ». We named our installation « la mesa de la nueva movida » (which translates to « the table of the new movida » as a tribute to this movement and with hopes that it can be the place of cultural and socials exchanges that could eventually bond the local community together. Moreover our design is an architectural gesture, a new red diagonal through the existing square. Not denaturing the site but enhancing its existing qualities.
The installation combines fourteen individual tables nested together. Each table is made with one plywood board from Garnica, Concéntrico’s collaborator, for the table and the structure which supports it. The whole thing forms a 20 meters long table that can be the place for all people to share various social activities together such as reading, drawing, sharing a community meal or some boardgames. The rest of the wood can be use to make some stools even if the neigbhors are welcome to bring their own chairs. The table often crosses a tree pit or streetlights, and interact with those objects by integrating them to the design. As we know the springs and summers in Logroño are mostly sunny and hot so we also designed a metal parasol which is part of the table.
Our « mesa de la nueva movida » is a simple but yet humanist and hopeful table. This red thread weaving a new social fabric at the heart of Logroño. It invites the reinvention of the square’s uses, blending with its residents and their shared moments under the dappled light. This table, a symbol of dialogue between architecture, collective memory, and everyday gestures, is an invitation to cultivate the art of living and sharing together.
Since the inception of our architectural practice, we have prioritized integrating sustainability and reversibility as fundamental principles in our design approach.
Our Concéntrico proposal uses plywood for its versatility and reusability, creating a table that can be repurposed or disassembled for alternative uses. The design also includes six parasols made from repurposed metal poles, highlighting resource efficiency and circularity. Each table module in our design is extracted from a single plywood sheet provided by Garnica. The tabletop, measuring 1.5 meters by 0.8 meters, serves as the primary surface and foundation for the assembly process, which is both efficient and methodical. The assembly begins with the precise drilling of the tabletop at designated points, allowing for the seamless integration of the supporting porticoes. This initial step ensures accuracy and consistency, providing a robust starting point for the structural system.
The second phase involves assembling the porticoes, which act as the main framework of the table. These porticoes are constructed using a mortised design, where four horizontal elements interlock securely with the vertical supports. This moising technique creates a strong, stable structure without the need for additional adhesives or complex fasteners, enhancing both the table's durability and its ease of disassembly.
In the final phase, a horizontal brace is added at the base of the structure. This component is carefully fitted into the lowest mortise of the porticoes, locking the elements into place and providing further stability to the overall design. The moising system eliminates the need for metal fasteners or adhesives, maximizing material efficiency and ensuring the components can be easily separated and reused, aligning with our commitment to sustainability and reversibility. This project, both modest and ambitious, reflects the harmony between thoughtful design and social gatherings.
Location : Logrono, Spain
Organizer : City of Logrono - Concentrico Festival
Status : Competition
Date : January 2025