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Nutura’s concept melded Mediterranean life, Roca's heritage, and Barcelona's culture. The pavilion proposes a nuanced journey through these feelings by reinterpreting the architectural world of the Catalan territory: an inventive and adaptable construction system in wood, based on traditional shutters. The organic shapes and the combination of colors, from the different tones of brown to the various shades of blue, are reminiscent of the land and the sea. Like hidden messages drawn in the sand, ceramic tiles form concealed letters that invite visitors to discover and play with them. Developed through collaboration with local craftmanship and technology, the tiles were produced by the renowned artisan Toni Cumella, supported by the robotic expertise of the Architecture Institute IAAC team.
Originally built within the Cortile d'Onore of the Università Statale di Milano, the pavilion embraces an imposing Gingko Biloba tree, making it the central piece of the intervention. Nutura’s organic shapes and neutral colors, in harmony with the architecture of Ca’ Granda, evoke the land and sea, reflecting Barcelona’s essence. The use of natural materials resonates with the architectural elements of the coastal territory. Traditional blinders are reinterpreted, echoing Coderch's intent to create in-between interior-exterior spaces in relation with natural world. At Roca Barcelona Gallery, Nutura outlines the space with a bench that retraces the perimeter of the existing bamboo garden, creating intimate spaces surrounded by vegetation: a peaceful retreat within the urban landscape.
Inaugurated first in Milan during Furisalone 2023 and aligned with its "Re-Evolution" theme, Nutura embodies environmental and social sustainability. Its subsequent unveiling in Barcelona coincided with Barcelona Design Week 2023, introducing it as an "open-air salon" inviting citizens to a peaceful place away from city commotion: Nutura returns home as a city gift. Its ephemeral nature allows for its dismantling, recovery, and reuse to experience other lives in different places. An example of urban integration, its sinuosity and natural materiality recalls the culture of Barcelona, recognized for its inviting public spaces. Roca generously opens its private terrace to the neighborhood, providing seating, shade, and a welcoming plaza to relax and enjoy nature.
A platform, shaped to match the plot's contours, lifts the installation above the surrounding hedge, resembling a balcony overlooking the plaza. On top of it, a series of undulating walls create a captivating pathway reminiscent of navigating through the waves: when you enter, it is like walking into a world that overlooks the sea, a world related to the Mediterranean architecture of Coderch. These walls vary in height and transparency, providing glimpses of internal pathways. Visitors stroll amidst these walls, effortlessly transitioning into the plaza, where they discover comfortable seating for relaxation and gatherings within the Main Cortile of the Università Statale di Milano. In Barcelona, instead, the character of the plaza is more intimate: the bamboo surrounding Nutura is arranged in such a way that the plaza becomes a cozy garden, a serene oasis where one can escape the frenetic pace of urban living, allowing for a more direct and intimate connection with nature. Special ceramic tiles, produced by the renowned ceramist Toni Cumella and assisted by the robotic expertise of the IAAC team, sprinkle the flooring to present the new Roca collections in an amusing way. The Nu faucet line, and the Tura sanitary line, are reinterpreted through small allegorical drawings. A sea of floating letters on the ground can be discovered as the visitor walks through the space, revealing a message hidden on the floor: SEMPRE A CASA in Milano, and ROCA at home, in Barcelona.
Roca presents Nutura at Milan Design Week 2023, re-experiencing nature and celebrating 20th century Barcelona architecture. It proposes a sensitive journey through the Mediterranean and the wonderful universe of Roca; a centenary company that produces, through its creations, comfort, and care to our planet and inhabitants. Taking its name from the blending of Nu and Tura, the pavilion has been relocated to Roca Barcelona Gallery to let the public experience once again its natural beauty.
Benedetta Tagliabue is an internationally renowned architect and co-founder with Enric Miralles (1955–2000) of EMBT Architects in 1994. She is known for iconic works like the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburg 2004, the Santa Caterina Market in Barcelona 2005, and the Spanish Pavilion for Expo Shanghai 2010. Recent works include Ferrara's San Giacomo Apóstolo Church 2019 and Kálida Sant Pau Centre – Part of Maggie's Centre Network in Barcelona 2019 and leads many on-going projects worldwide. She is a visiting professor at Harvard, Columbia, and ETSAB and serves on prestigious international award juries. She has received several awards, including the RIBA Stirling and National Spanish prizes.
