The Valencian studio Lecoc Arquitectura has won an IF Design Award at the 67th edition of the prize, one of the most prestigious design awards in the world. Multinational companies like Samsung, Lenovo, Apple, and Google have also been honored with these awards.
The award, granted in the Architecture category, recognizes the design of the OncopoleL’Espoir, the oncology hospital in Oran and one of the largest oncology hospitals in the Arab world, which was designed in Valencia.
The building was selected for the award from among 10,000 submissions by creators from 52 countries. The construction combines the traditional architectural wisdom of Algeria and Oran with a contemporary reinterpretation of elements of traditional Mediterranean architecture, such as the “mashrabiya.” It merges cutting-edge medical technology with a space that has already become iconic for Algerian society.
“We are very pleased that our work has been recognized internationally. Architectural projects for hospitals require a great deal of specialization, and this award establishes us as a key firm in the world of healthcare architecture,” said Alicia Medrano, co-founder and partner of Lecoc.
The hospital is located in the center of Oran, and its concept emphasizes lighting and the fusion of modernity with the traditional architecture of central Africa. The project includes a hospitalization center, a specialty center, operating rooms, outpatient clinics, and laboratories.
Since its creation, the facility has allowed many patients from North Africa to receive treatment without having to travel to Europe. The Oncopole L’Espoir is the only project in Africa and the Middle East to win an award in this year’s edition of the IF Design Awards.
The jury, composed of 98 professionals in the design field from around the world, recognized the idea and its execution, as well as the impact the new facility is having on the country.
Founded in 2017 by architects Alicia Medrano and Fernando Pedrosa, both graduates of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Lecoc is an international firm that has developed projects in Spain, Africa, and Europe.
With a strong focus on environmental integration and a commitment to design and innovation, Lecoc specializes in the development of hospitals, clinics, and healthcare spaces. Another of its projects, the Clínica Cózar in Valencia, was a finalist in the same edition of the awards.
Currently, Lecoc is working on a second hospital in Oran and has been awarded the contract for another medical facility in Algiers, with a budget of 80 million euros.
