The workshop of dreams

A palenthologist, a novel writer, a chef and a the director of the Pritzker Architecture Prize paired with four Spanish designers for a collection in wood.

Four Spanish architects and designers, each paired with a famous protagonist of the cultural and culinary scene participated to the “The workshop of dreams”, initiated by the American Hardwood Export Council in Europe (AHEC) and the IE School of Architecture & Design. The resulting pieces were exhibited during the Hay Festival in Segovia, in Spain, at the Esteban Vicente Contemporary Art Museum.

**Top:** from left, RCR Arquitectes, Cercas Territory, commissioned by Javier Cercas; Izaskun Chinchilla, A window to the Arzak universe, commissioned by Juan Mari and Elena Arzak; Jacob Benbunan (Saffron), Limiting Factor, commissioned by Juan Luis Arsuaga. **Above:** Benedetta Tagliabue, Family of tables, commissioned by Martha Thorne, 2016

The participants played the roles of designers and inspirers and have been paired together in four teams to realise their dreams into thoughtful and tangible objects. The resulting pieces, crafted in a variety of sustainable American hardwoods. Martha Thorne, Executive Director of the Pritzker Prize of Architecture, initiated the project calling four designers and architects from Spain and challenging them with the discovery and creation of the dream object of a significant personality.

Izaskun Chinchilla, A window to the Arzak universe, commissioned by Juan Mari and Elena Arzak, 2016

The first team was made of Martha Thorne herself, who commissioned a set of coffee to Barcelona-based architect Benedetta Tagliabue, founder of Miralles Tagliabue EMBT. RCR Arquitectes created an ergonomic lounge chair for writer Javier Cercas, while Izaskun Chinchilla designed a kitchen cart for the three Michelin-starred duo Juan Mari and Elena Arzak. The fourth team saw the collaboration between Jacob Benbunan, founder and CEO of Saffron, who interpreted a portable cabin for paleoanthropologist Juan Luis Arsuaga.

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Jacob Benbunan (Saffron), Limiting Factor, commissioned by Juan Luis Arsuaga, 2016

Jacob Benbunan (Saffron), Limiting Factor, commissioned by Juan Luis Arsuaga, 2016

RCR Arquitectes, Cercas Territory, commissioned by Javier Cercas, 2016

Left: Izaskun Chinchilla, A window to the Arzak universe, commissioned by Juan Mari and Elena Arzak. Right: Benedetta Tagliabue, Family of tables, commissioned by Martha Thorne, 2016

Left: RCR Arquitectes, Cercas Territory, commissioned by Javier Cercas, 2016. Right: Benedetta Tagliabue, Family of tables, commissioned by Martha Thorne, 2016

The workshop of dreams, Segovia, Spain
Designers: Benedetta Tagliabue, RCR Arquitectes, Jacob Benbunan, Izaskun Chinchilla
Inspirers: Martha Thorne, Javier Cercas, Juan Mari and Elena Arzak, Juan Luis Arsuaga
Collaborations: AHEC – Europe, IE School of Architecture & Design, Esteban Vicente Contemporary Art Museum
Curator: Martha Thorne
Year: 2016

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