Vilalta is a Barcelona-based design studio operating in the fields of architecture, urbanism and design. Xavier Vilalta is the founder and director of the studio. He is a distinguished international architect specialised in sustainability. His work combines innovative technology with local resources and culture to create contemporary designs suitable for their environment. Declaring that “we love nature and we care about people”, our design philosophy is to connect the old and the new, co-opting and updating the best thinking of past traditions to create modern buildings that are both deeply respectful of the past and searingly contemporary. We have worked on more than 80 projects, including homes, schools, cultural institutions and commercial buildings in 15 different countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and America. A variety of institutions worldwide have recognised our innovation in the architectural field. Among these awards there are the Young Architect of the Year at the LEAF Awards 2008, in 2009 and 2010, the SAIE Selection at Energy Exhibition in Bologna, Italy. In 2013, we received an international cooperation award from the Association of Architects of Catalonia and an Honorable Mention for the Modern Atlanta Prize. In 2017 the Lideta Mercato was honoured by the UNESCO Prix Versailles as the best shopping mall worldwide. Recent projects include a 38.500 m2 mixed use development in Mahala, Egypt and a 180 ha master plan in Astana, Kazakhstan.