ACCIONA Energía Pavilion / IAAC

Architects: Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC)
Area: 100 m²
Year: 2024
Photography: Adrià Goula
Principal Architects: Urbanitree: Daniel Ibañez, Vicente Guallart, Santiago Aguirre, Marc Bielsa, Jesus Mora, Paulina Sevilla
Design Team: Daniel Ibañez, Vicente Guallart, Oriol Carrasco, Manuel Novelo, Swohm Chattopadhyay, Jesse Cotey, Philipp Wienkamper, Didac Torrent, Shyam Zonca, Andrea Rubio, Sbusiso Sapphire Bhembe, Indraneel Joshi, Laia Pifarré, Bruno Ganem, Wilfredo Rodriguez, Jorge Ramirez, Daniel Sallés, Xavier Marco
Collaborators: Bat Spain & Serge Ferrari Textiles
Timber Engineering: Madergia & Tallfusta
Engineering Services: Socotec
Assembly: Madergia & Egoin
CLT: Xilonor
Lighting: Luz Negra
Communication: Pati Núñez Agency
Structural Engineer: Estudi m103
Environmental & MEP: Montpart (Electrical)
Client: ACCIONA Energía
City: Barcelona
Country: Spain

ACCIONA Energía Pavilion, designed by IAAC in Barcelona, redefines temporary architecture through material circularity, renewable energy integration, and modular adaptability. Constructed with mass timber, recycled textiles, and repurposed wind turbine blades, the pavilion significantly reduces carbon emissions while demonstrating an approach rooted in environmental responsibility. The structure engages with natural forces through passive cooling strategies and kinetic wooden elements that respond to the wind. Photovoltaic panels reinforce self-sufficiency, while a modular system ensures reusability, extending the project’s lifecycle beyond its initial installation. As an ephemeral intervention, it proposes a framework for sustainable architecture that is adaptable, responsive, and embedded in the logic of circular material use.

ACCIONA Energía Pavilion, located at Moll de la Fusta in the Port of Barcelona, serves as an interface between environmental consciousness and architectural experimentation. Designed and built by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), the structure functions as a public and corporate space, utilizing a modular system that enables rapid assembly and disassembly. The pavilion responds to its surroundings by integrating wind movement, material circularity, and renewable energy as core design principles. Repurposed wind turbine blades from El Cabrito wind farm in Tarifa (Cádiz) become both structural and performative elements, demonstrating how decommissioned industrial components can be reintegrated into new architectural contexts.

The construction system relies on renewable and recycled materials to significantly lower environmental impact. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) from Xilonor forms the base, while GLAM timber from Madergia defines the primary structure. The use of bio-based materials results in a carbon-negative footprint, storing more CO2 than was emitted during construction. If conventional materials such as steel, aluminum, or plastics had been used, the emissions would have been up to 50 times higher. Photovoltaic panels on the roof contribute to an energy-autonomous approach, reinforcing the pavilion’s self-sufficient nature.

The pavilion employs multiple strategies to optimize environmental performance. The integration of repurposed wind turbine blades not only establishes a direct link to ACCIONA Energía’s expertise in wind power but also serves a functional role within the façade ventilation system. Passive cooling principles harness natural airflow from the Mediterranean, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling systems. A raised podium and strategically placed openings allow for enhanced cross-ventilation, contributing to thermal comfort. The kinetic wooden posts along the pavilion’s exterior respond to wind currents, visually mirroring the movement of wind turbines and transforming the structure into a dynamic, climate-responsive installation.

Environmental strategies shape the pavilion’s spatial and material performance. The reuse of wind turbine blades not only references ACCIONA Energía’s expertise in wind energy but also contributes to natural ventilation, forming part of a passive cooling system. The design optimizes airflow through its raised podium and strategically positioned façade openings, reducing the need for mechanical cooling. Wooden posts along the pavilion’s exterior respond to wind currents, shifting with the breeze and creating a visual expression of environmental forces at play.

As a temporary structure, the pavilion operates on multiple levels. The lower level functions as a shaded exhibition space, offering an interactive environment for visitors, while the upper level accommodates corporate meetings and events. Designed for adaptability, the modular system allows the structure to be reassembled for future installations, avoiding the waste associated with single-use pavilions. This approach aligns with broader sustainable urban development strategies, reinforcing the role of architecture in promoting material reuse and low-impact design.

Spanning 100 square meters, the pavilion incorporates a range of sustainable materials. The structure includes 28,000 kg of laminated spruce wood, half of which is recycled, sequestering over 70 tons of CO2 throughout its lifecycle. The design also integrates 110 kg of high-tenacity recycled polyester fabric and four repurposed wind turbine blades, each preventing 2,045 tons of CO2 emissions over their operational lifespan. A 12 kW solar installation supports on-site renewable energy generation, further enhancing its environmental performance. Achieving a carbon-negative status, the pavilion stores more CO2 than was emitted during its construction, underscoring the potential of bio-based and recycled materials in contemporary architecture.

The ACCIONA Energía Pavilion challenges conventional notions of temporary architecture by prioritizing adaptability, energy autonomy, and material reintegration. By engaging with natural forces and circular construction methods, it serves as a prototype for low-impact, regenerative design strategies, demonstrating how ephemeral structures can extend beyond their initial installation to contribute to broader architectural and ecological dialogues.