A-Cero
Architects Joaquín Torres and Rafael Llamazares met at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura of Madrid. From that moment on, they understood the need to contribute a different vision of the profession and founded the A-cero studio to make it possible. Their shared vision of architecture and design is reflected in each of the works they have carried out, characterised by modern lines, bold geometry and a clear commitment to contemporary aesthetics. A philosophy that transcends the purely constructive in search of the perfect combination of aesthetics and functionality.
Their successful trajectory has led them to look to the future without losing sight of the masters of modern architecture. They base themselves on them to construct a transforming message, in which beauty, plasticity and aesthetic quality must be the norm. In the face of urban dehumanisation, they defend the social responsibility of architects; a commitment that stems from architecture's capacity to improve society.
In their works, characterised by an elegant minimalism with brutalist touches, Torres and Llamazares seek to merge architecture with the environment, taking advantage of natural light and the topography of the site to create harmonious and comfortable spaces. This objective is manifested in the use of large windows, terraces and patios that allow a fluid connection between the interior and exterior spaces, generating a sense of continuity and spaciousness. In collaboration with Kronos Homes, A-cero has designed two very different projects.
Both avant-garde and modern, but each with its own character. The first was The Collection, an exclusive residential complex located in Puerta de Hierro, whose design plays with volumes and the superimposition of planes to transmit a powerful and emphatic image, but deeply integrated into its urban context. The second was Oasis 325, a large residential complex on the Costa del Sol, of which we highlight its large windows and sculptural pergolas, made of prefabricated concrete. Two innovative and unique works that materialise an architecture capable of breaking the boundaries of time.
When talking about A-cero, reference is usually made to Joaquín Torres. Something which, on the other hand, should come as no surprise, as the Barcelona architect has acquired public notoriety through his presence in the media. However, although Torres is the most visible face, the architecture studio cannot be conceived without its other face: Rafael Llamazares from Leon.
Who is Joaquín Torres?
Born in Barcelona in 1970, the architect Joaquín Torres is the son of the Ferrol-born Juan Torres Piñón, founder of the construction company ACS together with the businessman and president of Real Madrid CF, Florentino Pérez. Certainly, the father figure had a great influence on Torres' tastes, as he was responsible for familiarising the young Joaquín with architecture, sculpture, painting and classical music.
In particular, his interest in architecture and art began to awaken at the age of 12 while he was studying at the Lycée Français in Madrid. But the real turning point in his life would come four years later, when he travelled to the United States to study English.
"I asked the family I lived with to take me to Pennsylvania to see Frank Lloyd Wright's Kaufmann residence - popularly known as the waterfall house -. And also to Chicago to see the work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. His work fascinated me. And that's when I decided I wanted to be an architect," he told AzureAzure magazine three years ago.
A desire that materialised in 1996 when he graduated from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de A Coruña and founded the A-Cero Joaquín Torres Arquitectos studio together with Rafael Llamazares and Alberto Peris.
Since then, he has left his mark on numerous projects that are an example of modern, elegant and avant-garde architecture. And among his influences, he admits to being an admirer of the work of architects such as the British John Pawson or the Iraqi Zaha Hadid.
The celebrity architect
Although Joaquín Torres' houses are enjoyed by anonymous people of different profiles, he is known by a large part of public opinion as "the architect of the famous". A consideration that has its origins in the professional relationship he had with the builder and property developer Luis García Cereceda.
"Luis opened up a world unknown to me. And thanks to him I was able to work with Amancio Ortega -founder of the textile business group Inditex-, the former Prime Minister Felipe González or the Entrecanales family", he explained years later in Vanitatis.
Torres, as a representative of A-Cero, appeared on several occasions on the Supercasas programme on laSexta. In this space, personalities such as rally driver Carlos Sainz, journalist Cristina Tárrega, ex-footballer Fernando Hierro, television collaborator Gonzalo Miró and ex-model Nuria March showed their homes, making Torres a media personality.
Origin and trajectory of A-cero Arquitectos
They both studied together and founded A-cero Arquitectos in 1996, the year in which they opened the Casa Pilar café-bar in a central street in A Coruña. It was a 150 square metre premises, later converted into a restaurant, where they put into practice their original way of understanding architecture and interior design.
Since their beginnings, Torres and Llamazares have distinguished themselves by applying a concept of contemporary architecture inspired by the world of art. A vision influenced by the modernism of Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the organic architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, the minimalism of John Pawson, the innovation of Zaha Hadid or the volumetric forcefulness of the Spaniards Ignacio Vicens and José Antonio Ramos.
And its emergence came about thanks to Luis García Cereceda. The builder and property developer was the driving force behind La Finca, in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), one of the most exclusive urbanisations in Europe. The architecture studio moved there in the year 2000, beginning a career in which the work carried out for celebrities stood out.
Some of these projects were made known to the general public through the Supercasas series on laSexta. A programme with the participation of Joaquín Torres in which thousands of viewers were able to familiarise themselves with the homes of singers Alejandro Sanz and Madonna; footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane; television personalities Gonzalo Miró and Cristina Tárrega; and businesswomen Nuria March and Mónica Cuétara.
However, Torres and Llamazares have not limited themselves to celebrity commissions. Their work also includes real estate developments. And, as mentioned above, both pay special attention to interior design. In fact, they have a team specialising in the design, furnishing, decoration and comprehensive interior refurbishment of homes, offices, restaurants, shops, etc.
In 2007, they added their offices in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to their offices in Madrid. Thus, their work has crossed borders, as, in addition to the Middle East, they have carried out projects in numerous countries: from Austria to the Dominican Republic, via the United States, Lebanon, Russia and Thailand.
What is A-cero Tech?
In the studio's offer, A-cero Tech deserves a separate mention. This division has undoubtedly revolutionised the architectural and real estate world with its industrially manufactured modular houses. All you need to do is have a plot of land and commission the project. The result is personalised and exclusive homes, characterised by their quality and respect for the environment.
Joaquín Torres and Rafael Llamazares began producing these industrial buildings in 2009. A housing model that is manufactured in the workshop, assembled on site and adapted to any terrain, which gives it the following advantages:
- Modular architecture makes it possible to shorten construction times by 60% to 75% compared to traditional construction.
- As soon as the project is commissioned, the price is not altered (unless "extras" are requested, such as fencing, swimming pool, carport, interior design work, etc.).
- The quality of the workmanship is controlled at industrial level, thus avoiding the need for on-site finishing or finishing.
- The safety of the operators is increased as the project is carried out in the factory.
- Modular buildings are characterised by their environmental friendliness.
- Industrial architecture improves the energy efficiency of buildings.
- And it prioritises the use of renewable energies, such as biomass boilers, solar panels, thermo-fireplaces.
One of the first clients to opt for A-cero Tech's industrial housing was Carlos Sainz. "One of the advantages of these modular homes is the delivery times. And no less important: here there are no negative surprises or problems that usually occur in conventional construction work", said the rally driver in the Supercasas programme with Torres and Llamazares.
Far from focusing solely and exclusively on prefabricated housing, the studio also uses its modular architecture concept in clinics, offices, sports facilities or educational centres. And its services include consultancy, obtaining permits and licences, connections, foundations, transport and assembly of the buildings, etc.
Most famous works by A-cero
The architectural work of Joaquín Torres and Rafael Llamazares ranges from mansions for Amancio Ortega (Inditex) or the Entrecanales family of businessmen to real estate developments, residential complexes, single-family homes... Among others, the following works stand out in A-cero's trajectory:
- 1998. University Research Services Building, University of La Coruña (Galicia).
- 2005. Refurbishment of the Gibo showroom and offices in Madrid.
- 2007. Wave Tower project in Dubai (United Arab Emirates).
- 2015. Centro Cultural Mercado de Getafe (Community of Madrid).
- 2022. The Collection (Kronos Homes) in Puerta de Hierro (Madrid).
Their work has also been recognised with various prizes and awards, both in Spain and abroad. In them, they have valued an architecture "with soul, where shapes and materials blend in with the environment, creating unique and personal spaces", as Torres and Llamazares defend on the studio's official website.
A-cero projects with Kronos Homes
A-cero's passion for architecture and the works in which he is involved has not gone unnoticed by Saïd Hejal. So much so that the CEO of Kronos Homes commissioned him to design The Collection residential complex, located in the exclusive Puerta de Hierro residential development in Madrid. A privileged natural environment surrounded by the Casa de Campo, the El Pardo mountain and the Dehesa de la Villa.
At the launch of the project, Hejal noted that "for The Collection to be a success it was very important to work with stars of Madrid architecture, such as A-cero". For his part, Joaquín Torres emphasised that the complex had brought "immense added value to Puerta de Hierro". And he added that, unlike other developers, when he began to collaborate with Kronos, it was clear that "the important thing was quality, quality and quality".
The Collection has not taken long to gain fame and notoriety, as it is home to Tamara Falcó's penthouse. "It is located very close to my mother's house -in reference to Isabel Preysler-. And I knew that Saïd always strives for excellence. A good example of this is that he commissioned the project to Joaquín Torres and Rafael Llamazares, which is an additional plus", commented the popular television collaborator and ambassador for Kronos Homes at the handover of the keys to her new home.
Tamara has opted for a housing complex that combines the best residential architecture with sustainability. A characteristic embodied in the integrated vegetation of the buildings and the landscaped areas. And endorsed by the demanding Breeam certificate, a seal that distinguishes environmentally friendly constructions.
The Kronos development has also been equipped with communal areas, with a swimming pool, spa, gymnasium and gourmet social area, so that residents have everything they need without having to leave the complex.
A-cero is also responsible for the first phase of Oasis 325, a large residential project located in Estepona and whose name refers to the annual days of sunshine that characterise this attractive town in Malaga. In their design, Torres and Llamazares proposed large concrete sculptural pieces that are not only an element of architectural identity, but also a pergola that screens and optimises the comfort of the homes. These homes, in addition to being located in a place of great natural beauty, have a full range of communal facilities, including a spectacular swimming pool surrounded by gardens.
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