The Association of Urban Planners of the Official College of Architects of the Valencian Community (COACV) announced in May 2025 the AAUCV HONORABLE MENTION FOR URBAN PLANNING AND URBAN PROJECTS, to recognize the quality of planning and urban development projects and studies prepared by architects in the Valencian Community. The winning entry was the General Plan for Alpuente (Valencia), with all its structural, detailed, heritage, and other documents, drafted by AUG-ARQUITECTOS, SLP. The jury’s minutes state the following:
“The proposal consists of a General Plan with structural and detailed planning, as well as the Catalogue of Protected Elements, all of which have been definitively approved. The Jury highlights its special interest as a planning tool for the rural system, addressing a small, delicate, and detailed urban morphology, whose planning demonstrates a well-articulated protection of the municipality’s extensive and valuable cultural heritage, which has 44 BIC and 165 BRL. It establishes a structural and detailed planning plan, well coordinated with the existing urban centers and with the elements of great environmental and landscape value that surround it. The recognition of the rural system, which provides the environmental and ecological resources and services that allow for the adequate territorial balance of the Valencian Community as a whole, where the emptied inland territory compensates for the intense activity and occupation of the coast, is positively appreciated. Within this strategy, the economic performance of the municipal rural territory is promoted and the valorization of its ecological role, its cultural and landscape heritage, all focused on improving quality.” of the lives of its inhabitants. The aim of encouraging the use of protected values and elements from a flexible perspective for these general objectives is highlighted. It is considered a good example of general planning, with great involvement and collaboration from the population, even integrated into the drafting team itself. The urban planner’s commitment to the plan and the municipality in addressing the new legislation introduced (Article 231.bis TRLOTUP) to consolidate the traditional vernacular architectural cores of its villages is valued, despite the significant increase in the complexity of the process. Finally, the quality of the formal, graphic, and written presentation of the proposal is also appreciated.
Finally, and as a conclusion to these deliberations, the Jury unanimously agreed that the Alpuente General Plan is the urban planning work worthy of the Honorable Mention from the Association of Urban Architects of the Valencian Community in 2025.
This instrument is valued as a well-rounded, complex, rigorous, and complete work, highlighting its A careful and extensive catalog. It is considered the highest quality and most formalized work among the proposals submitted, going beyond the strict requirements of its mere preparation, with the special involvement of the public.”
The award was collected on September 12 by Víctor García Gil, urban architect and director of the drafting team, at the AAUCV annual dinner, on behalf of the entire AUG-ARQUITECTOS, SLP team, external collaborators, and individuals from the Administration and from Alpuente, in particular, with whose collaboration it was possible to complete such a complex project.
Receiving this award from professional colleagues and with a jury composed of fellow urban planners, including the secretary of the Union of Urban Architects of Spain (UAAU), is an important incentive to continue working in this type of field with the same level of self-demand that characterizes all of this firm’s work.