Key takeaways from the event held at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion
Piscina Barcelona positions water as a key driver of design and wellbeing in hospitality
On 27 May, Piscina Barcelona hosted the Water & Space: designing the future of wellbeing conference at the iconic Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, as part of the official programme of Barcelona 2026 World Capital of Architecture. Bringing together nearly 200 professionals, the event explored the role of water as a fundamental element in architectural design, hospitality and wellness, and opened a debate on its ethical, creative and sustainable integration into the built environment.
Experts agreed that water can no longer be treated as an add-on at the end of a project, but must instead be embedded from the conceptual stage as a structural component of architecture. In this regard, Jorge Arditti, co-director of Arditti+RDT Arquitectos (Mexico), described it as the “invisible foundation” that sustains life, health and the economy, and advocated for advancing towards models that make its cycle visible and foster greater user awareness.
Txell Manresa, co-founder of Mipmarí, emphasised the importance of defining the full lifecycle of this resource from the outset of the design process — including water-saving strategies, rainwater harvesting and the reuse of surplus water — and called for interdisciplinary collaboration from the very beginning, built on shared goals and a common vision.
The emotional and sensory dimension of water also featured prominently throughout the discussions. Vanessa Alejandra Ortega, Interior Architecture Manager at Sordo Madaleno, explained from a neuroscientific perspective how the visual and acoustic presence of water activates relaxation responses deeply rooted in collective memory. In the same vein, Manresa noted that architecture is not only observed but experienced, and should therefore be conceived to promote health through variables such as ambient humidity and material selection. In this sense, luxury in the hospitality sector is now being redefined by its ability to generate overall wellbeing and disconnection, rather than by mere aesthetics.
Diego Calderón, architect and founder of DFDC, addressed the evolution of the hotel bathroom, which has shifted from a symbol of luxury to a central space for experience and wellbeing. He also called for a rethinking of the hotel room typology in order to respond to current water-related challenges.
Solutions to the water crisis
The conference also provided a global perspective on the water crisis through different geographical contexts. In Latin America, Arditti warned of the severity of the situation in Mexico City, marked by insufficient infrastructure and reliance on emergency solutions, particularly in tourist areas.
From the Caribbean, architect and landscape designer Paula Bruna (Eme Concepts) and Álvar Cortada, founder of Phiba, described the impact of intensive tourism on already stressed resources, with high consumption levels requiring the use of reverse osmosis systems and sustainable drainage solutions to protect vulnerable aquifers.
In the Middle East, Fernando Rial, Head of Design at KEO, explained how near-total dependence on desalination turns water into both a critical constraint and a design driver in high-end projects.
Meanwhile, from a European perspective, Paulo de Sousa, partner and architect at Saraiva + Associados, highlighted the global responsibility of architects, noting that seemingly minor design decisions can have a significant cumulative impact on consumption. “Designing one more or one less bathroom in an apartment translates into millions of cubic metres of water per year globally,” he stated.
Hospitality and wellbeing
The debate also addressed the role of the hospitality sector. Interior designer Isabel López Vilalta argued that hotels must act as exemplary agents in promoting responsible water use, bringing into the tourism sphere practices already established in the domestic environment. Alfonso Segarra, architect at Nikki Beach Hospitality Group, stressed that water management must be integrated from the outset of the project, particularly in concepts where user experience is a central pillar. These reflections were complemented by proposals from Jorge Arditti aimed at introducing incentive mechanisms and traceability systems to help users better understand and value the real impact of water consumption. For example, the implementation of visible water meters and loyalty systems based on points for energy and water savings was suggested to encourage responsible consumption
The final part of the conference focused on industrialised construction as a means to significantly reduce water consumption during the building phase, aligning architecture with more efficient production models. Paulo de Sousa highlighted that “prefabrication allows for the intelligent use of resources”, while Fernando Rial pointed out that the architecture sector still lags behind industries such as aeronautics in terms of construction efficiency.
Moderated by David Cámara (UNEX), the event organised by Piscina Barcelona underscored that addressing the water crisis requires close collaboration between architecture, design, industry and hospitality operators. Beyond technical solutions, speakers agreed that the main challenge lies in driving a cultural shift that places water at the centre of decision-making.
Finally, Ángel Celorrio, Director of Piscina Barcelona, closed the event by reaffirming the exhibition’s commitment to showcasing industry innovation in the service of wellbeing. The next edition of the show will take place from 15 to 18 November 2027 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, featuring leading international companies across the pool, wellness and outdoor sectors.
Barcelona, 1 June 2026
Event photos available here
Maria Dolores Herranz
Tel. +34 93 233 25 41
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