Alfonso Mollinedo designs Acesur Olive Mill in Jaén—a unique, sustainable building rooted in the landscape to boost olive oil tourism

The architecture of this oil mill designed by the Mollinedo Arquitectura studio brings humanisation, generating friendly living environments that are not so usual in this industrial sector. Courtyards with olive trees and vegetation are introduced, creating dynamic spaces of connection and extension with the exterior, where the paving is a reflection of this dialogue.

The construction has ensured a balance between the construction itself and care for the environment by reusing all excavated soil and gravel as contour fill and for the garden hillocks, thus avoiding their removal and transport. Other sustainable strategies include the collection of rainwater in cisterns for cleaning and irrigation, as well as a photovoltaic plant.

The reflection on how to intervene in this territory arises from the contemplation of the olives as they fall to the ground and how they are positioned, some half-buried, others supported, dispersed… What defines their reading are the interstitial relations between them, their voids and the volumetric references.

In this way, based on the shape of the fruit, geometric hexagonal modulations are planned, which are related with reasoned randomness to find an optimal connection between use and container: an olive oil extraction warehouse; an oil cellar; a warehouse for auxiliary installations; a reception area, shop and conference room and a space for offices, laboratories, staff and toilets.

Using a module, which plays with different heights and in its variations defines the use for which it is intended, helps to understand the implementation and reflection on organic repetition. Placing the pieces, generating earthworks and plantings around them and texturising them with a complete envelope of light coatings in a colour similar to olive oil make this idea a harmonious and integrating attraction.

The project is shown from its tree-lined access and we are greeted by a landscaped hexagonal square with a breakwater that allows parking for public and private vehicles, as well as buses. Modulated by the organic idea of growth in hexagonal sections, which is the idea of implantation and construction in the territory, we reflect on the capacity to minimise the impact both in terms of volume and visual globality. To this end, we have resorted to this strategy of architectural and landscape camouflage, where the form makes it belong to the land. The exterior cladding itself, both on the façade and on the roof, will play a mimetic and attractive role.

In this way it was decided that the union of 4 hexagonal modules would form the cellar, in direct allegory to the olive blossom. They are semi-buried to form mounds which are landscaped and which, when the plants grow, will integrate the whole into the terrain, showing that the beauty of nature, to which it belongs, is a marvellous way of expression. We make it possible not only for the exterior to be accessed for maintenance but also for the interior to be visited.

The auxiliary building is defined within another hexagon and houses the space for the oil mill master, the boiler, CT, a warehouse and the workshop.

From the entrance you can see the reception and oil shop and a large space with gardens inside with the expressive intention that these pieces belong outside. A conference room closes this first space. A glass walkway connects the reception and administration areas, incorporating other interior and open gardens. At one end are the general toilets and at the end are the laboratory and staff areas. From the reception another walkway connects us to the cellars.

Rescuing the beauty of the land and linking it to industrial production and the promotion of olive oil tourism in the province has been a grandiose process in which all parties have gone the extra mile.

Project: Almazara Acesur.
Architecture: Mollinedo Arquitectura. @alfonso.mollinedoarquitectura.
Finished: 2023.
Gross floor area (m2/ ft2): 4.966 m2
Location: Jabalquinto, Jaén,
Programme, use, building function: Almazara y centro de oleoturismo.
Prize: Iconic Awards Innovative Arqchitecture 2024 Best of Best.
Fography: Jesús Granada. Franciso Sánchez, arquitecto. Alfonso Mollinedo, Arquitecto.
Text: Mollinedo Arquitectura.

Alfonso Mollinedo

Alfonso Mollinedo is an architect by the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Sevilla (ETSAS), in 2010 Master in Sustainability and Energy Efficiency in buildings and industry, University of Jaén (UJA), in 2013 course in Textile Architecture at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Master in Project Management from UNADE_Business-School. He has been a member of the Official College of Architects of Jaén since 1994.

His solid professional career of more than 25 years combines innovation, sustainability and a deep respect for the environment. His architecture seeks to generate living and organic spaces, achieving a dialogue between people, place and nature, and he believes that architecture should flow with the environment, transcending mere functionality to become an engine of connection and emotion.

He is committed to “helping to discover the future with the knowledge of the past, looking for ideas that can be the origin of new ways of living, building and inhabiting ” explains Mollinedo. His philosophy focuses on thoughtful and honest architecture, using advanced technologies such as BIM, and applying principles of sustainability and energy efficiency. “I apply sustainability from the beginning of a project, as a fundamental tool for ideation and construction, where bioclimatic and efficient criteria are also, in their true concept, key to reach a global and integrated conception of the project” he says.

In 2002 he co-founded CLM arquitectos, in 2008 he co-founded the urban research group Comuna Creativa, in 2010 he co-founded NON arquitectura, in 2017 he co-founded ANDA arquitectura. In 2019 he founded Mollinedo Arquitectura, the studio he currently directs.

Among his most renowned works is the Célula Building, a university residence awarded the International Iconic Award in 2019 and the Andrés de Vandelvira Prize in 2020.

He has received national and international awards and has published extensively.

Project by Alfonso Mollinedo