Finsa is launching an open architectural competition to continue transforming its estate of A Panda da Dá and consolidate it as a space of opportunities for the sustainable territorial management in Galicia, in north-west Spain. The call was announced last week by the Galician timber company with the collaboration of Fundación RIA, and will rehabilitate the architecture and landscape of its 410-ha site to accommodate new training and research activities, as well as to support visits from entitles involved in managing Galicia’s territory and across the value chain of timber.

Fundación RIA has collaborated in this process by developing preliminary studies, which have enabled a new functional programme to be drawn up for the estate. RIA is also supporting Finsa in the approach, development and communication of the competition, working to establish quality standards for the profession in procurement processes.

The call for entries for the first phase is open until 18 December, by submitting portfolios of the studios interested in participating. In a second phase with financial rewards for all participants, five finalist teams will develop the architectural proposals at at a schematic design stage.

The competition jury is made up of two representatives of Finsa and three architects with extensive experience and recognition: Aurora Armental (Estar estudio), Graça Correia (Correia Ragazzi) and Carme Pinós (Estudio Carme Pinós).