The six-day construction turns timber into social infrastructure in A Coruña
Un Obradoiro emerges from a practical design workshop held with first-year architecture students at CESUGA (Centro de Estudios Superiores Universitarios de Galicia) in A Coruña, Spain. Led by Sebastián Erazo and Stefano Pugliese (Erazo Pugliese), together with professors Javier Caride and Tomás Valente, the workshop was co-funded by XERA (Agencia Gallega de la Industria Forestal) and was structured as an introductory exercise in architectural production, linking the development of full-scale construction design.
The process began with a short site analysis and proposal development phase held in a studio over two days. The students’ observations were then consolidated into a shared design composition by the teachers, forming the basis for a 1:1 timber structure built on site over six days. The chosen plot, located adjacent to the university cafeteria and parking lot, was defined by its underutilization and its potential to support informal gathering spaces for students and staff. The elevated terrain also introduced wide views to the rural, natural and urban landscape of A Coruña, while requiring the definition of spatial boundaries, orientation and programmatic use without the existing infrastructure.
The final design takes the form of a diagonal wooden wall that incorporates seating elements and a table in its thickness. At its upper end, built-in fabric The panels provide varying degrees of shade depending on the solar conditions during the day. The structure works as a hybrid between architectures installation and furniture, organizing activities while framing views across the surrounding site.
all images by Erazo Pugliese
The workshop marks the fourth collaboration between studio Erazo Pugliese and CESUGA School of Architecturecontinuing a pedagogical methodology centered on rapid translation from design intention to built outcome. With twenty first-year students participating, the construction process combined prefabrication and on-site assembly, structured through rotating work groups that coordinated different stages of construction.
Un Obradoiro functions as a landscape-oriented intervention that supports informal use while remaining open to observation over time. The structure also functions as a pedagogical device, allowing for assessment of material behavior, weather conditions and employment patterns as part of its ongoing performance within the campus environment.
