Architecture as a way of living
The architectural awakening of Oriol Roselló
From an early age, Oriol discovered the evocative power of architecture through an early experience in an old spa. With its immense halls and elegant decadence, it awakened in him a fascination for timeless beauty, that which resists the passage of time and fashions. This discovery marked the beginning of his path, a path guided more by intuition than by a pre-established plan, always seeking to enjoy every step of the creative process.
Oriol defines himself as a pioneer. In his years in Oregon, he learned the value of self-sufficiency, finding pleasure in creating and repairing with his own hands. From building furniture to expanding the house he lived in, each project connected him more with the essence of a homo faber, the man who makes and transforms with his hands. This connection to manual labor has been a fundamental pillar in his architectural approach.
Italy and the influence of traditional architecture
Eventually, his quest for knowledge led him to Italy, a country where ancient stones and ruins speak of a glorious civilization. Italy taught Oriol that architecture is much more than the construction of spaces: it is a dialogue between past and present, between history and modernity.
His experience with Architects Without Borders took him to Bangolo, a small town in the Ivory Coast, where he faced the challenge of rethinking the way in which cooperation projects were developed. There he discovered the importance of maximizing local resources and learning from traditional techniques. This experience consolidated the philosophy that he later applied in his architectural studio: respect for local materials and the harmonization of his projects with the environment. Thus was born Estudi Bangolo Arquitectura, a space where each project is an opportunity to learn and rediscover.
Oriol is not satisfied with what he has learned. He firmly believes in the need to “forget what has been learned in order to learn what has been forgotten”. His approach combines the wisdom of vernacular architecture, that which arises from necessity and local resources, with his incessant curiosity for new and old techniques. Through his sketches, drawn in notebooks that always accompany him, Oriol transforms his ideas into reality, creating luminous and warm spaces that capture the essence of timelessness.
For Oriol, architecture is more than a profession, it is a way of life. Each project is a testimony of how to build with respect for nature and, at the same time, create functional and beautiful spaces. His works are not just buildings, they are the physical manifestation of his commitment to a more sustainable world and the preservation of the memory that precedes us.
More about Oriol Roselló's career
Oriol Roselló Viñas Founder. Architect (ETSAV 1993).
Oriol Roselló founded the firm bangolo and combines design with research and dissemination of architecture and traditional techniques through the organization of multiple conferences and publications.
As a professor at the University of Girona he co-founded the research group CATS, Construction: advanced technologies and sustainability, dedicated to the study of sustainability and heritage. In mid-2011 he co-founded the GRETA project, where he is director of the Conference on Traditional Techniques in the Construction of Contemporary Architecture and professor of the Master’s course in traditional techniques.
Prior to founding bangolo, Oriol Roselló collaborated with other architects and took part in various photographic expeditions around the world and international cooperation projects, one of them in Bangolo (Côte d’Ivoire), where local artisans and Km0 materials are valued, a philosophy that is preserved in current projects.
He is a disseminator of popular architectures from around the world through Friends of UNESCO and collaborates with REHABIMED as editor of “Experiences in Rehabilitation and Urbanism” and speaker at the 1st Euro-Mediterranean Regional Conference (2007).
With more than 30 years of experience in the rehabilitation of anonymous heritage and more than 200 works executed, he currently coordinates and supervises all the studio’s projects.
Acknowledgments:
- 2002 FAD Award for ephemeral architecture for the Festival de Africas CCCB.
- 2003 First prize of Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government Railways)
- 2014 First prize EcoViure of Manresa
- 2016 Finalist of the Catalonia Construction Award
- 2019 First prize Toni Cobos of traditional architecture.
- 2020 First LEED Platinum certificate for a single-family home in Spain
bangolo studio
Building with soul since 1993
The heart of Bangolo Studio is formed by Oriol, Núria, Ferran and Eva.
Núria, with her calm and balanced approach, harmonizes creativity with economic viability, ensuring that each project is achievable without compromising quality.
Ferran, always practical, provides the necessary control to materialize Oriol’s ideas, stopping the creative process when necessary to ensure that projects are completed to perfection.
Eva, with her enthusiasm and dedication, brings a fresh and detailed vision, ensuring that each stage of the project flows in a coordinated and efficient manner.
Together, they form a team whose passion and commitment are reflected in every project.