On the afternoon of Thursday, September 10th, the Official Association of Architects of Madrid (COAM) held a reception at the Foundation headquarters to mark the opening of the exhibition of proposals submitted for the Valdebebas International Ideas Competition for a New Urban Park. Mr. Joao Ferreira Nunes, representative of the team responsible for the winning proposal “Sol y Sombra”, began the presentation with remarks that further explained the details and characteristics of his team’s singular project. Speaking on behalf of the Valdebebas Owners’ Management Board, Mr. César Cort, President, stressed that the Competition underscores Valdebebas’ ongoing commitment to building a city in which development and urban growth go hand in hand with environmental protection. Likewise, Mr. Federico Sepúlveda, general director of the Environmental Heritage Department, recognized how ongoing collaboration between the public administration and a private entity, such as the Owners’ Management Board, can bring about benefits for all citizens. To close the act, Ms. Paloma Sobrini, Dean of COAM, highlighted the important role played by architects in the creation of a city and closed the presentation with a few words of thanks on behalf of the Architects’ Association. Valdebebas is a new urban area with an extension of nearly 11 million square metres. Situated in the northeast quadrant within the municipal limits of the City of Madrid, it is bordered to the east by Terminal 4 at Madrid-Barajas International Airport and to the south by IFEMA, Madrid’s trade fair complex. The development features a number of large-scale development projects, including the Valdebebas Woodland Park; the future Justice Campus of the Community of Madrid; the extension of IFEMA; and Real Madrid’s Sports Complex. Along with these development partners, 1.2 million square metres of office and hotel space and 12,000 housing units, of which 45% will have some kind of government protection, will be developed. www.valdebebas.es For further information: Parque de Valdebebas Communications Department Beatriz Díaz-Guerra (+34) 91 343 08 72