The 32nd edition of the Pladur Construction Solutions Competition, organised by PLADUR® GYPSUM S.A.U., took place in May and June 2022, in Madrid. The competition was addressed to architecture students, and aimed to use Pladur building systems® to enhance synergies between the promoter company and the different higher education institutions, and to encourage the practice of architecture and teamwork. Several participants presented their projects, both individually or in teams. The aim of this year’s edition was to build a collective residential building for ‘digital nomads’. The ceremony took place on June 17.

The Técnico finalists Laura Guia, Mafalda Santos and Mariana Reis Alves (Integrated Master’s Programme in Architecture), under the guidance of professor Patricia Lourenço (Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georesources – DECivil), presented the “Pared Del Drago” project and were the local prize winners. The team won a monetary prize of €400.

The projects included the development of the project idea, location, orientation and relationship with the environment, preliminary draft, construction details and the arguments justifying the type of pladur board chosen, in order to comply with the design requirements, etc. The participants were given a free Building Information Modelling (BIM) initiation course worth €100.

“This award helps students to align skills with job market and to improve their network contacts, and validates their quality work”, stressed professor Patrícia Lourenço. This was also a time of sharing between students and professors who had the opportunity to exchange views and share experiences.