TALK BY JOSE MORAGUES PUGA AT THE JÁVEA LIBRARY
22/04/2025
In the talk held last Friday, April 11th, Jose Moragues Puga (architect and director of Singular Studio) reviewed some of the recent works carried out by the firm. The event was part of a lecture series organized by the Marina Alta branch of the Alicante Territorial College of Architects (CTAA). The central theme of the conference was the materiality of four studio projects—materiality understood as the only tangible concept in architecture.
1-Aduanas Library: Expanded Metal
The first project discussed was the building where the talk took place: the Library and Sociocultural Center of Aduanas del Mar in Jávea. Jose Moragues explained that the idea for this Project came from a reflection on infrared photography and, consequently, the effect of temperature on the skin. This, along with his interest at the time in smart materials, led him to propose the use of expanded metal for the building’s façades. Moragues aimed to create a constructive allegory of skin that vibrates with the sea, reflecting the building’s location in this coastal neighborhood. The concept involved a solid volume floating over the sea. This second skin—made of expanded and beaten metal—that wraps around the library is opaque during the day, passively regulating temperature and minimizing solar radiation. At night, it bursts open and allows the interior light to shine through.
2-Casa BY: Concrete
The second project presented was Casa BY. For this house, the director of Singular Studio explained that the design was based on an in-depth study of Jávea’s geoclimatic constants. Through various analyses, he developed a program centered around concrete with different textures. The geometry and composition of the building envelope regulate the home's temperature to the extent of achieving nearly complete passive climate control.
3-Casa Helena: Pigmented Concrete and Natural Stone
“When I first read an article about synesthesia, I thought about applying it to architecture,” Moragues said. He even contacted the El Bulli Foundation of Ferran Adrià to conduct joint research. Although the collaboration didn’t move forward, Moragues pursued the idea of designing homes where one sense activates another—ultimately aiming to make the user feel good. This led to the design of Casa Helena, a residence located in the port of Jávea. Its ground floor, with natural stone, emanates a telluric energy, while the main floor, with pigmented concrete, becomes more welcoming and intimate.
4-Casa Esme: Travertine Marble and Wood
The design of this house was a major challenge from the outset: just five days to present a concept for a restricted competition organized by the owners. After winning the project, the studio worked intensively to optimize the new construction, which had to overcome architectural issues inherited from the previous building while meeting the new owner’s expectations. The final result is a home that reflects a commitment to architecture, the landscape, and above all, the people who live in it.
At the end of the talk, Josefa del Valle—architect and head of the Marina Alta branch of the Alicante Territorial College of Architects—thanked Jose Moragues for his participation in the lecture series. In turn, our executive director thanked all attendees for coming and the college for offering him this opportunity. He also presented Del Valle with two copies of Libraries Architecture, a book that showcases what are considered the world’s most important libraries. The only Spanish library featured in the book is the Library and Sociocultural Center of Aduanas del Mar in Jávea.