The UPV at the Habitat Fair

The Habitat Valencia Fair has been chosen by the School of Architecture (ETSA) of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) as the venue to present the programme of events with which it will celebrate its 60th anniversary. Until 1 October, ETSA UPV will be present at NUDE. "This strengthens the link between the School and the world of design and contemporary living," says Ernesto Fenellosa, director of the ETSA.

YUDesign creates NU2

During the fair, designs created by UPV students are also displayed. "What if furniture brought us closer together rather than driving us apart?" This is the premise that inspired 10 students from the School of Aerospace Engineering and Industrial Design (ETSIADI) to set to work on creating NU2. The team belongs to YUDesign, members of the UPV Design Factory programme:

"NU2 is a project that rethinks our relationship with our surroundings. The collection presents furniture as a shared experience, encouraging collaboration, interaction and play through two main materials: rope and wood," explains Natalia Ricarte. She holds a degree in Industrial Design and Product Development Engineering from UPV and has led the organisation of this project for the YUDesign team.

Light fitting and seat

The collection is based on two everyday types of furniture: a light fitting and a seat. Two pieces that conceal action-reaction mechanisms and trigger interdependent dynamics. "This turns the furniture into a collaborative and playful experience," says Natalia Ricarte.

Professor Begoña Sáiz, from the Graphics Engineering Department, has acted as the project tutor, and "the support of the ETSIADI workshop technicians, Pedro Ayala and Marta Ballester, has been essential, both during the manufacture and assembly of the pieces," adds Natalia Ricarte.

The design and material development of the furniture was carried out by Ana García, Ana López, Andrea Delgado, Clara Ramo, Elena Parra, Elia Navalón, Héctor Bernal, Natalia Lomas, Natalia Ricarte and Paula Arambul, all from ETSIADI.

Until 1 October, NU2 will be participating in the Nude Generation experimental zone, an annual event for new designers, design schools, businesspeople and the media, within the Feria Hábitat. YUDesign UPV forms part of the UPV Design Factory programme.

Award from the Valencia Regional Association of Architects

Mateo Gil and Yohana Mansour, also students at ETSIADI, have received the first prize and runner-up prize, respectively, in the 'Opera Prima' category of the 'Self-Produced Design' awards during the Feria Hábitat. These awards are presented by the Valencia Regional Association of Architects and are now in their eleventh year. These projects stemmed from work carried out as part of the Models and Prototypes Workshop course at ETSIADI. They are on display at the Association's stand at Feria Hábitat until 1 October.