Join us on April 16th for our upcoming lecture in the Preservation Lecture Series by Juan Pablo R. Frade and Jorge Rodriguez Donday (Frade Arquitectos). The lecture will be followed by a response and Q&A by Jorge Otero-Pailos.
The Presentation, “Heritage and Opportunities,” presents the trajectory of Frade Arquitectos and their engagement with architectural heritage as both a professional niche and a source of design innovation. Beginning with exhibition design, the practice developed a sensitivity to space, narrative, and detail that naturally evolved into the renovation of highly protected historic buildings.
Through projects such as the San Isidoro de León complex and the National Archaeological Museum of Spain, the architects highlight how constraints inherent to heritage work foster creative strategies, adaptability, and the discovery of unexpected spatial and historical values, also emphasizing the importance of accessibility, respect for legacy, and collaboration with traditional craftsmanship. Extending these principles to new architecture, Frade demonstrates how heritage analysis can inform contemporary projects, exemplified by the Alicante Congress & Exhibition Centre, where historical references shape both form and performance, creating a dialogue between past and present.