RCR Arquitectes

RCR Arquitectes is based in Olot, Catalonia, in the La Garrotxa volcanic region of Spain, where the firm was founded in 1988 by Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem, and Ramon Vilalta. The dramatic natural landscapes surrounding Olot—the volcanic terrain, forests, and rural countryside—profoundly inform their design approach of integrating architecture with its environment.

RCR Arquitectes was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2017, widely regarded as architecture's highest international honor. The jury praised the trio for creating architecture that is deeply rooted in its local context while achieving a poetic quality that resonates universally.

Notable projects include the Bel-Lloc del Priorat winery in Tarragona, the Les Cols restaurant and pavilions in Olot, and the La Cuisine arts center in Nogaro, France. Many of these projects use materials such as corten steel and glass to create spaces that blur the boundary between built structure and natural landscape.

Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem, and Ramon Vilalta have worked together since founding the firm in 1988 and are known for their unusual three-part partnership, which has remained intact for decades. They work in close physical proximity in Olot, away from major architectural capitals, and share design decisions collectively rather than dividing responsibilities.