Architect and researcher Ángel Borrego Cubero, head of OSS Office for Strategic Spaces, participated in the A@W Academy programme at ARCHITECT@WORK Madrid, held on 7–8 May 2026 at IFEMA Madrid. The event brought together architects, designers, manufacturers, and industry experts to discuss innovation, sustainability, and emerging challenges in architecture and the built environment.
Borrego Cubero delivered the lecture “Sumatorios y sostenibilidad en la rehabilitación de vivienda”, presenting ¡Ensanche!, a long-term research project that addresses the imbalance between undersized dwellings and underused open spaces in post-war housing estates in Spain and La Carbonería, a rehabilitation project of a collective housing building in Barcelona.
¡Ensanche! explores how accessible digital tools can empower residents to evaluate and visualize architectural alternatives inspired by transformative housing interventions such as the celebrated plus projects developed by Druot, Lacaton & Vassal. By making design scenarios understandable and accessible to non-specialists, ¡Ensanche! seeks to bring affordable and scalable housing improvements directly to neighbourhood communities.
Positioned at the intersection of architecture, technology, and community participation, the project proposes an alternative approach to the housing crisis by improving existing housing stock rather than relying exclusively on new construction. Its focus on sustainability, social impact, and urban regeneration reflects the growing importance of rehabilitation as a key strategy for addressing housing affordability and environmental challenges across Europe.
Note: the image is from Architect@Work Madrid 2026 catalogue