PROFILE

 Javier G. Pioz holds a PhD in Architecture from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura in Madrid, and a Master of Science in Building Design from Columbia University, New York. He has been awarded the Rome Fellowship by the Spanish Academy of Fine Art in Rome; the Diploma of the Akademie für Bildende Kunst in Salzburg; and the fellowship by the Fundación Juan March. He is a fellow of the Hispanic North American Joint Committee.

Javier Pioz has been President of the Hispanic North American Cultural Association. He has been Professor of Architecture at the Polytechnic University in Madrid since 1987, and lectures at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura.

 María Rosa Cervera holds a PhD in Architecture from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid and holds a degree by the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid. She has been awarded the Rome Fellowship by the Spanish Academy of Fine Art in Rome; the Diploma of the Akademie fur Bildende Kunst in Salzburg and the Diploma of the University of Dunankanyar in Hungary. In addition she holds a research fellowship by the Official College of Architects in Madrid and a fellowship by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

María Rosa Cervera has been Professor of Architectural Composition at the School of Architecture of Alcalá University since 2001 and has lectured at the CEU School of Architecture from 1988 to 2002. She was elected Dean of the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura of Alcalá University in 2004.

CERVERA & PIOZ

 Founded by Javier Pioz and Rosa Cervera in 1979, the Firm has, since then, devoted itself to the creation of unique and emblematic buildings. Their work has won many distinguished awards and prizes, including:

 Administrative Centre of the Spanish town in Shanghai (1); High School Complex (1); Xixi Wetland Museum in Hangzhou (2); P.R. of China Embassy in Madrid (1); Citibank-Spain Competition in Cadiz (1); Islamic Cultural Centre in Madrid (3); the National Festival of Video-Art in Cadiz (2); Official College of Architects of Madrid Award; Antonio Maura Award from the City Council of Madrid; Diploma from the Architecture Biennial in Sofia, Bulgaria; and Honour Award by the “Foundation For Architectural & Environmental Awareness” and “ArchiDesign Perspective”, New Delhi, India.

 María Rosa Cervera and Javier Pioz are the authors of articles and books on architecture, and regularly receive invitations to lecture at many academic and professional institutions. They have lectured in Universities of Spain, India, P. R. of China, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, Mexico, El Salvador and Colombia. Their theories and projects have reached audiences worldwide through monographs, national and international magazines, and the mass media (press, TV, radio and Internet). CLICK TO VIEW Their projects have also featured in major national and international exhibitions. CLICK TO VIEW

 In 1993, María Rosa Cervera and Javier Pioz founded the International Workshop of Bionics and Architecture in Cuenca, Spain. Since then, they have extensively developed education and research into learning from Nature and applying its principles to contemporary Thought, Art and Architecture.

CONCEPT

Since becoming a partnership in 1979, CERVERA and PIOZ have worked to develop new architecture and city planning proposals inspired by an integral understanding of the logical principles of flexibility, adaptability and energy-efficiency that are prevalent in all natural species.

In 1985 the Firm started to experiment with complex and dynamic structures resulting in several revolutionary projects. In 1992, CERVERA and PIOZ began their research into biological structures in nature and their application to modern structural engineering and architecture. A direct result of these studies was the discovery of a new concept of structure and construction: Bio-Structure.

By applying this new model to the concept of high-rise spaces, they developed the Sustainable Vertical Bio-Structure project: a building which can be up to 1,220m high and therefore makes possible a new urban model of Megacities that are both sustainable and based on human values.

 This innovative Bio-Environmental habitat, which can house up to 100,000 people, combines common sense with a rational use of space in light of man's need for land. At the same time, through the application of natural laws, a balance between Technology and Nature is allowed to emerge in the urban spaces of the 21 st century. CERVERA & PIOZ's new concept and model of bionic architecture have had major impact at an international level and have helped to open up new lines of experimentation. They have received requests from numerous academic, scientific and professional institutions in Europe, America and Asia to present their theories and exhibit their models.