The architectural studio Al Borde, founded in Quito by Pascual Gangotena, David Barragán, Maríaluisa Borja and Esteban Benavides, is the winner of the BancaStato Swiss Architectural Award 2024. The prestigious biennial award, promoted by Mendrisio Architecture Theatre Foundation with support of the University of Italian Switzerland – Academy of Architecture, confirms itself as one of the most important international platforms for celebrating contemporary architectural excellence.

The ninth edition of the award marks an important turning point thanks to the partnership with BancaStato, which has led to the new name “BancaStato Swiss Architectural Award”. With a prize pool of 100.000 Swiss francs, the award aims to highlight architects under 50 who have demonstrated a significant commitment to ethical, aesthetic and ecological issues.

The jury, chaired by Mario Botta and composed of Walter Angonese (USI-Academy of Architecture), Sophie Delhay (EPFL), Matthias Kohler (ETHZ) and Xu Tiantian (China), selected the winner from 31 candidates from 17 countries. The award was unanimous, with a motivation that praised Al Borde's collective and rooted approach, capable of reinterpreting local materials and traditional techniques with an innovative perspective.

The winning works

Al Borde won over the committee thanks to three significant works:

  • Hall viewpoint (Learning Viewpoint) in the protected forest of Cerro Blanco, Guayaquil, Ecuador (2021-2022);
  • Raw Threshold Pavilion in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (2022-2023);
  • Yuyarina Pacha Community Library, Huaticocha, Provincia de Orellana, Ecuador (2023-2024).

These projects reflect a broad and profound vision of sustainability, rooted in history and attentive to the needs of local communities. The jury emphasized how the studio has managed to transform the territory into an “X-ray” of the cultural and environmental context, addressing crucial issues with coherence and radicality.

An international platform

The BancaStato Swiss Architectural Award is distinguished by its collaboration with the three leading Swiss schools of architecture: Università della Svizzera italiana, ETH Lausanne (EPFL) and ETH Zurich (ETHZ). This synergy helps strengthen the credibility and relevance of the award at a global level.

The award is not only a financial recognition, but also an opportunity to shine a spotlight on new transdisciplinary perspectives that redefine the role of architecture in responding to contemporary challenges. From environmental sustainability to climate change, the architectural debate is a fulcrum for promoting innovative and responsible solutions.

Ceremony and exhibition

The award will be officially presented on May 8, 2025 at the Auditorium of the Teatro dell'architettura Mendrisio, where an exhibition dedicated to the candidates' projects will be inaugurated. For further details on the current and previous editions, please visit the official website: www.swissarchitecturalaward.com.

The Al Borde architectural studio

Founded in 2007, Al Borde is distinguished by a design approach that places people and territory at the center. The studio adopts a philosophy based on interaction with local communities, using sustainable resources and techniques. Among the numerous awards received are the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture (2013) and the Lafarge Holcim Award Acknowledgment for Latin America (2014).

With their minimalist aesthetic and strong focus on collective participation, the members of Al Borde have redefined the concept of architecture as a cultural and social expression. Their work has been published internationally and celebrated in prestigious exhibitions, cementing their role as protagonists on the global architectural scene.