Workshop 2026
Os Ancares Habitat
Typological On-Site Investigations
July 24th to August 7th, 2026
Piornedo, Os Ancares, and Xuances, A Mariña, Lugo
| program |
The 4th edition of the ROAD Workshop “Typological On-site Investigations”, will take place from July 24th to August 7th, 2026 at ROAD’s headquarters in Galicia, at Lugar Fontao in Xuances, near Esteiro Beach, as well as in the Serra dos Ancares, in the province of Lugo.
It will be conducted by architect Luis Feduchi and Adrián López Rancaño, and organized in collaboration with Asociación Ser – Casa Quindós, an organization founded by filmmaker Oliver Laxe in 2027, dedicated to protect and revitalize the rural environment of Os Ancares, Lugo, by fostering sociocultural activities and promoting rural development in the region.
The workshop is supported by the Fundación Arquia and will focus on the future of the palloza, a traditional stone-and-thatch-roof dwelling that can be found in the Serra dos Ancares in Lugo, Galicia, among other places throughout Europe. Many are currently in a state of abandonment, and their maintenance is a challenge.
The primary aim of the workshop is to develop a practical renovation plan for this typology and to explore design strategies for its further use and protection. Based on the foundation created by last year’s workshop, the 2026 workshop seeks to dive deeper into the subject, creating on-site prototype of the design outcome.
In addition to the research and design activities which takes place in the ROAD headquarters in Xuances, the workshop includes guided itineraries to explore exemplary contemporary interventions on Galicia’s rural heritage.
| sarela river itinerary |
The workshop starts on July 24th visiting the works of Víctor López Cotelo in Santiago de Compostela, guided and curated by architect Ángel Panero, co-author of the Fundación Laboral and specialist in the work of López Cotelo.
As a starting point and foundation for the workshop, direct knowledge and study of these interventions is an essential and highly enriching experience. We will delve into the values and particularities of emblematic projects such as the Fundación Laboral, the Casas del Sarela, the Vaquería del Carme de Abaixo, all in the vicinity of the Sarela River, and, in the urban centre, the residential complex on Rua da Caramoniña, next to Bonaval Park, in order to provide participants with a comprehensive proposal on how to approach interventions in abandoned or impoverished areas of historical and natural heritage.
| excursion to piornedo |
The weekend of July 25-26, participants in Workshop 2026 will visit Piornedo to study and visit the pallozas, traditional dwellings in the Serra dos Ancares. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the activities carried out by the Teitos de Piornedo Association, as well as some other individuals and cooperatives that are members of the Ser Association, which works to revitalise rural areas.
| applications |
Open to all interested participants, selection is based on the submission of a letter of motivation, a short bio, and/or samples of personal work. Please send them to road.site.info@gmail.com
The registration fee is 560 euros. ROAD will assist participants in locating accommodation and boarding.
Thanks to sponsorship by the Arquia Foundation, two grants are offered for students of architecture and/or recently graduated architects. The grants cover tuition, room, board, travel expenses (including scheduled itineraries), and travel assistance insurance for the duration of the workshop, which runs from July 24th to August 7th 2026.
For further information or inquiries, please contact road.site.info@gmail.com