Following on from our 2016 self-initiated research project and guerrilla exhibition in an abandoned structure on the Costa del Sol, the local council of La Cala de Mijas invited us to stage another exhibition, with a bigger scope, in the local art gallery, between 15 September and 9 October, for which we created all the works exhibited, designed and built the exhibition, and organised an international architecture competition looking for proposals for the area.

The exhibition addressed the western area of Mijas Costa. The work on show was intended to represent the area as it exists at present without resorting to lazy stereotypes, and to begin to imagine how a more considered approach to architecture and urbanism could shape the future of communities and neighbourhoods in a more positive way.

The central piece of the exhibition was a Mindmap installation that contained an exploration of our thoughts about the Costa del Sol area and the role design could play in its future. It featured small paper models and bubbles of text and encouraged visitors to answer the questions posed, agree or disagree with our points and proposals and give their suggestions, ideas and comments.

The show also exhibited acrylic paintings, watercolour drawings, a photographic essay and the shortlisted submissions for an international architecture competition we launched. The winner was chosen following a public vote from the visitors of the exhibition and a specialised jury led by Daniel Rosbottom, director of DRDH and Professor of Architecture at TU Delft. The competition asked designers to consider the surrounding social, cultural, topographic, climatic, urban and architectural context, and focused on an undeveloped plot in Riviera del Sol between Calle Jose Rivero and Calle Severiano Ballesteros.