Mirador del Palmeral by STAR Strategies Wins First Prize in Spain

Dutch architecture firm STAR strategies + architecture has won the first prize in the international competition “Mirador del Palmeral” in Elche, Spain.

The project plans to raise a big wheel like element which invites to observe the Elche palm grove from different points of view. The giant Ferris wheel is sought to become a landmark welcoming visitors to the city of Elche. The wheel will have sixteen pods, ready to host dinners, meetings and celebrations.

The announcement of the winning proposals was made by the mayor of Elche, Alejandro Soler, after the jurors had reviewed the entries of the second design phase. Soler also announced that the second prize was awarded to Japanese architects Sanaa and the third prize to the project developed by Torres & Martínez Lapeña Architects.

STAR was one of the two teams selected from the first phase of the public competition to participate in the second phase where four prestigious offices had been invited: Sanaa, MVRDV, Martínez Lapeña + Torres Arquitectos, Ábalos + Sentkiewicz + Arquitectura Agronomía.

TEAM: STAR strategies + architecture

1st Phase: Beatriz Ramo López de Angulo, Jean-Vianney Deleersnyder, Simone de Iacobis.
2nd Phase: Beatriz Ramo López de Angulo, Jean-Vianney Deleersnyder, Luca Vandini, Jordi Milá Jansá, Alberto Perez Cols, Eduardo Vega de Prado. 

Logistics: Javier Ramo, Ana López – Angulo, Bernd Upmeyer (BOARD)
Model: Vincent de Rijk
Consulting: ARUP España
Project Director: Ignacio Fernández Solla (Associate Director)
Coordinator: Fernando García Colorado
Structure: Patricio García Hernández, Kayin Dawoodi
Sustainability: Ramón Rodríguez Cabezón (Associate), Albert Hassan, Susana Saiz Alcázar
Electrical Installation: Pablo Checa Sanz (Associate), Valentín García Rasero

And here some images of the second and third prize winners Sanaa and Torres & Martínez Lapeña Architects: