The Piscina Barcelona trade show has announced a competition aimed at architecture and landscaping studios across Spain to design the Outdoor & Wellness Experience space — the highlight of its next edition — which will take place from November 17 to 20, 2025. This 1,000 m² experiential area will combine the latest trends in outdoor design and wellness, allowing visitors to experience cutting-edge solutions in a functional setting
The competition, organized in collaboration with the Spanish Association of Landscape Architects (AEP) and the Official College of Architects of Catalonia (COAC), offers €7,000 to the winning project, as well as the opportunity to see their proposal built and showcased at the most internationally renowned event in the sector. The challenge is to design a comprehensive ephemeral architecture project using sustainable and reusable materials to display products and trends in the pool, wellness, and outdoor sectors in a realistic and experiential environment.
The 1,000 m² space must include the recreation of an outdoor green environment with vegetation, removable structures, and outdoor furniture, as well as a functioning wellness center that includes a pool, water zones, treatment cabins, sauna, and changing rooms. It must also consider the construction of a conference area with a capacity for 150 people, as well as a VIP area for speakers. The project must be versatile and meet sustainability criteria from economic, functional, and environmental perspectives. Additionally, it should align with the promotion of wellness and sustainable production and consumption advocated by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Trends in a Realistic Setting
“This competition is an invitation to architecture and landscaping studios to redefine the concept of a wellness center within a natural environment that incorporates outdoor design solutions,” explains Ángel Celorrio, director of Piscina Barcelona 2025. “We seek an immersive and sustainable experience that conveys the peace of nature and the sensation of wellness through water, in a space that attracts our visitors to discover the latest trends in the sector,” he concludes.
The jury, composed of members jointly selected by Piscina Barcelona, AEP, and COAC, will evaluate the proposals based on criteria of originality, consistency with the concept of sustainability, formal quality and material concreteness, construction feasibility, innovation in materials and design, and the ability to reuse and recycle components.
With this approach, Piscina Barcelona aims to stimulate creativity and the use of responsible solutions that harmonize technology and sustainable design in ephemeral architecture within the trade fair environment.
Professionals interested in participating individually or in teams can register for this competition through the Piscina Barcelona website until January 31, 2025. There, they will also find the contest rules and other technical documentation. Once registered, they will receive a request to submit their project sheet by February 7, 2025. The winner of the competition will be announced on February 13, 2025.
Main Attraction in 2025
Outdoor and wellness spaces will be the main attractions at the next edition of Piscina Barcelona, highlighting one of the rising trends in this sector. In this regard, the trade show aims to create a single central activity space that will be larger than in previous years and will be called the Outdoor & Wellness Experience. This area, located in Pavilion 1 of the fairgrounds, for which the ephemeral architecture competition has been announced, will integrate both the functioning wellness center that the fair has been building for five editions and the outdoor showroom inaugurated in 2023 to showcase the synergies in these fields.
Held biennially, Piscina Barcelona is the most internationally renowned European trade show in the pool, wellness, and outdoor sectors. Organized by Fira de Barcelona in collaboration with the sectoral association ASOFAP, it is preparing its next edition, which will take place from November 17 to 20, 2025, at the Gran Via venue in the Catalan capital. The show is expected to occupy more than 40,000 m² gross, bringing together 400 exhibitors from 30 countries, including leading global brands, and 14,000 professional visitors, 60% of whom are international.
