Fallas* by Architects

For a long the Fallas in Valencia has been a time for expression, artistic exploration and social criticism. Despite the great amount of tourists, there are several fallas that are not made to win, not made to be contemplated, nor even to follow the tradition. These fallas are made to be felt deeply in the heart.

The growing trend in building experimental fallas is giving extraordinary results. These monuments are showing a variety of unusual characteristics that go back to the history of the celebration and, for sure, enrich the common aesthetics. Most of them focus on the visitor´s curiosity, feeling or experience. And thus, making the fallas more reflective, more emotional, more participatory, more bonds-creating.

In the recent years, the Fallas has been a field for expression for a lot of architects, due to the difficult times for the profession running now in Spain. The entry of new professionals has brought new and different values to the wooden sculptures. They are not longer nice figures with a pinch of grace, but an opportunity to express certain ideas, to explore the field of the ephemeral structures or to involve the neighbours in the making of a different exciting experience.

Spatial, structural or organization challenges are presented to the newly-born fallas artists. But they are solved in the best manner an architect can do, thinking the falla as a short-term pavilion. An ephemeral building that has to excite the senses of the visitor, provoking exploration of the hidden parts, touching the pieces or thinking over the story telling. 

The new role of the architect in the fallas-building is fresh air in the tradition. It brings exciting emotions but also opportunities for the architects during these hard times. Moreover, it is a time to explore certain fields by the architects that can be used later, but the most important, in my opinion, is to offer the visitor, the neighbour, the spectator a new vision, a new role and a new feeling towards the Fallas.

* Fallas is a traditional celebration in the area of the Spanish city of Valencia. It is related to St. Joseph Day, March 19, when a lot of ephemeral monuments (called fallas) made of wood, cardboard or polystyrene are burned. 





The following images were shot during a Guided Tour by the alternative fallas in Valencia one night in Fallas 2015, organized and presented by the different fallas artists, some of them architects. It was a complete pleasure to take part in such an event.