• This future landmark facility for the circular economy and waste prevention will form part of the architectural itineraries taking place as part of the sector’s leading global event, organised by the International Union of Architects (UIA)

The Mataró-Maresme Circular Park, a pioneering facility that will host activities aimed at repairing, reusing and reducing waste generation with the goal of transforming the current model of production and consumption, will form part of the architectural itineraries to be organised as part of the 2026 World Congress of Architecture.

Under the slogan ‘Becoming. Architectures for a planet in transition’, the congress, organised by the International Union of Architects (UIA), will bring together more than 10,000 professionals and around 250 speakers from across the globe in Barcelona from 28th June to 2nd July, with a programme featuring over a hundred sessions, with the aim of becoming a global reference point for imagining new futures for architecture.

A few days before, the programme will kick off with a wide range of architectural tours, curated by architects Aureli Mora and Omar Ornaque, which will enable international participants to experience first-hand projects and initiatives that stand out for their ability to address the challenges of ecological transition, sustainability and territorial transformation.

In this context, the Mataró-Maresme Circular Park has been selected to form part of the guided tours along the Mataró-Blanes Route, taking place on 25 June, which will also include stops at Mataró Panoptic Prison, the Alta Alella Wine Tourism Centre and the Enric Miralles Library in Palafolls, among others.

The Mataró-Maresme Circular Park

Driven by Maresme Circular, the Mataró-Maresme Circular Park is located in the Mata-Rocafonda industrial estate in Mataró and is designed as a space that promotes an alternative approach to resource management, based on reuse, waste prevention and extending the useful life of products.

The first phase of the project, with construction due to be completed between late 2026 and early 2027, will house the Espai Refer (Re-make Space), a facility open to the whole region that will offer free services to the public, such as advice on DIY repairs in various areas (computers and electronic devices, carpentry and furniture, bicycles, textiles, home DIY, etc.), a ‘Library of Things’ where items for occasional use can be borrowed, a loan service for reusable tableware for all kinds of parties and events, cooking workshops to prevent food waste, a large second-hand shop and an agri-food workshop to process and add value to surplus produce from the region’s farmers, among other initiatives.

The first phase also includes a bulky waste treatment area linked to door-to-door collection to maximise its recovery potential. The second phase of the Park will focus on more technological and industrial activities, driven by the private sector.

Sustainable and circular construction

The building’s design, by Julià Arquitectes Associats (JAAS), incorporates passive design strategies to reduce energy consumption, such as optimal orientation, natural cross-ventilation, natural lighting and solar shading systems, and integrates renewable energy through photovoltaic panels on the roof and solar systems for thermal energy production, which cover a significant proportion of the facility’s low energy demand.

From a construction perspective, the project prioritises the extensive use of structural timber and other materials from renewable sources, significantly reducing the carbon footprint compared with conventional systems.

Furthermore, dry construction techniques have been employed to reduce water consumption, reduce construction times, minimise waste generation and improve the precision and quality of the construction process. These solutions also facilitate the selective dismantling of the building, promoting the reuse of components and the future adaptability of the spaces.

The project also incorporates circularity criteria in the selection of materials, prioritising those that are recycled, recyclable or have a low environmental impact, as well as the reuse of materials already present on the site, such as aggregates derived from former industrial waste.