Extraordinary Places that inspire Extraordinary Lives
Because you already have unique qualities, but they will not grow without the proper architecture
Science has proven that the design of the spaces around us has an enormous impact on our progress, both personal and professional.
Unfortunately, many people live or work in buildings that do not allow them to reach their full potential, and then ruin their possibilities for a better tomorrow.
Indeed, extraordinary projects stimulate your senses, favor healthier personal habits and more fulfilling relations; allow more productive and creative work, are financially profitable; leave a positive impact on the environment, produce a strong sense of belonging, offer a fertile ground for growing your own story….
Everything? It sounds too good, doesn´t it? Well, it all depends on the users.
How to do it? From my experience, it is simple, but not easy… Magic happens when you integrate the Site below, the Sun above, and a Structure in between, to create a MEANINGFUL SPATIAL EXPERIENCE.
The thing is, all of the previous requires excellent communication, to understand the clients´ Wants, discover their hidden Wishes, and provide what they Need to achieve them…
You can think that I’m exaggerating or you can sign up for my newsletter.
You´ll be receiving my emails every other day, about extraordinary architecture and engineering, including my projects, so that you can appreciate how spaces that touch our emotions improve your life, the lives of those around you, or the lives of your clients.
How these places are, how to design them, and how to explain them, written in a language that even my grandmother would understand.
It is easy and free to register, or to leave, any time.
By the way, when you subscribe, I will tell you about one of my best projects, which failed, AND the tough lesson I got from it. What project? keep on reading...
If you do not repeat my mistake, you will probably save plenty of time and money.
VISIT THESE 3 PROJECTS…
Who am I to make such a proposal? It does not matter right now. Before, I present you some examples of my work, which will clarify what I meant before.
ONE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE LAMP TO ILLUMINATE YOUR COMMUNITY
Our roofed bridge over the Dianpu River, for the Government of Qingpu, gave a new life to the entire Plot-18 District. Much more than a solution to a problem of mobility, the zigzag hollow beam became a public square where people love to stay, and which literally illuminates an otherwise anonymous neighborhood.
Residents constantly use the bridge for all sorts of common activities: as a theatre, as a venue for parties, even as a temporary clinic or, my favorite, as a background for wedding pictures… People say that this project began a new era of bridges in China.
THE IVY THAT GREW OVER THE TREE. HYPER PRODUCTIVE PLAYGROUND
We won the competition to restore a villa, which once belonged to the Chinese Ministry of Health, and become the new Shanghai office of Wieden + Kennedy, a very prestigious advertising agency. A new exoskeleton of shadows offered incredible working flexibility, which intensified the collaboration among different teams.
The project facilitated the expansion of their creative power. As a result, their business grew rapidly and they had to move to a larger facility.
A FOLDED COLUMN WITH A BUSINESS LESSON FROM THE MONKEY KING
The Urban Planning Bureau of Lianyungang asked us to design a tower on the small Gedao Island, to commemorate a site related to Sun Wu Kung, one of the most important figures in the Chinese tradition. We made a logical and singular light path, which emerges from the ocean, rests on the island, and straightens towards the sky, to contain several cultural functions.
It had the potential to change the entire experience (and economy) of the bay, but we lost the project and, at the same time, I learned a business lesson that I will never forget.
Do you want to know more about this project and its painful business lesson?
I will be happy to share it with you. All you have to do is subscribe to my newsletter.
… AND MANY MORE
If you are still curious about my background, do not worry. I have plenty of content to satisfy your appetite, but you´ll have to be patient to taste it.
After I started my architectural studies in Madrid, back in 1987, I lived and practiced in several countries, mainly in Spain, England, Argentina, Japan, China, and Switzerland, where I reside now.
During this time, I have been involved in a wide variety of Research, Design, Teaching, and Management activities, at the intersection between Architecture, Engineering, and Landscape.
VISIT MY WORKS to get an idea of my designs.
There is a lot for you to discover, if you want. When you click on the Menu of this website, you will be able to select from over 770 Adventures (and counting…).
My Archive is not a curriculum to impress you. It is the map of a journey that I will share with you... slowly. For the time being, and depending on your interest, you can use the menu to explore the episodes (by selecting what you want to see: everything, only some chapters, or subchapters) and reorder the content in different ways.
Be aware that you will not find a case that perfectly matches your own situation. Each one is the result of unique conditions, probably very different from yours.
VISIT MY ARCHIVE to overview my entire career.
Also, you can get some more information by clicking on any of the Adventures.
However, I reveal the itinerary and details ONLY to the subscribers of my newsletter. They receive valuable material, most of which is not publicly available.
All my past could be part of your future, if you want. So, is my past good for you? Maybe, I don’t know.
To taste it, check the project for the Monkey King and how I lost it, so that it does not happen to you.
Subscribe to my newsletter and see it by yourself...
HOW IT WORKS
I want to explain something that I said earlier. Because if you don’t agree with what happens after you subscribe, it is better that you don’t do it.
My name means little stone in the morning stream, literally. This could be of little or no interest to you, but what comes now is what really matters.
Every other morning, I throw an email to the inbox stream of those subscribed to my newsletter.
In the emails, I write about my experience as an architect and engineer. I explain, with examples, the challenges I face, the processes I go through, the surprises I encounter, the solutions I discover, the relations with clients and other professionals, the benefits for the user… in a very easy way. I also write a lot about communication.
You may find some of the ideas in the emails useful.
As a curiosity, many emails are organized in series, around a topic, theme, work… of my Archive.
Anyway, every email has one link at the end. And depending on this link, there are 2 types of emails:
In most emails, the link offers business opportunities between us, because we surely share some interests, and that is why you are on my list. I call theses emails pebbles.
Once in a while, the link contains images, texts, videos… mainly of my activities, and related to the issue we are dealing with. These emails are little gems for you to collect, free and without any commercial purposes.
You might end up loving me or hating me, but you won’t know until you subscribe and read my emails.
Remember, the longer you wait, the more pebbles and gems you miss…
A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
You´ll need to confirm your registration, with the first email you get from me.
If you don’t see the confirmation email in your inbox, check your spam, junk, social, and promotions folders. Then, you can rescue the email by moving it to your principal inbox. It helps that you reply to the email or you add my address to your contacts list.
You have no obligations. It is free to subscribe, to stay, and also to leave, for any reason, at any time.
I respect your privacy. Your data is 100% safe.
And remember that my story with the Monkey King is waiting for you… Here:
SOME UNSOLICITED COMMENTS
This is what some subscribers say about my emails. THANKS to everyone who writes to me, not only those below.
Not all the messages were originally in English, so I have translated some. Messages are anonymous and straight to the point. Then, I deleted greetings and information that would reveal who wrote. I haven't included either any comments from haters. We don’t need their frustration. What I did include are the subject lines of the emails.
Re: More Than "Construction Supervision", This Was a "Communication Expedition"
“I felt very identified with this one… ha… ha…”
Re: What is a Beautiful Drawing?
“You are the Seth Godin of architecture :-)
I love today's. I also draw to think, to understand, to connect... not to represent. That is a result.”
Re: 7/8. Spain (2010-2016): Six Years of Sedimentation
“Thanks so much for sending it (…) I enjoyed them more and more.”
Re: Comments on some of your posts
“Just when I received the email about the School in Mendoza, the first thing I did was read it to XXX. She agreed with the image of the trees. We had never thought of the one with the people. Sharp observations about the whole project, the details, etc. The data are correct, which is not always the case when others write about something that one knows very well.”
This extract belongs to a email series with lessons about this and other projects. I learn a lot from your replies.
Re: Torres Blancas - White Towers
“Knowledge - at least in your case - clearly doesn't take up space!!!
Watch the Netflix series titled 45 Revolutions about a record company in the 1970s in Spain which, in addition to being entertaining, locates the offices of the record company in Torres Blancas, apparently on the top floor.”
Re: Live on a Bridge. Amancio Williams in Mar de Plata
“I loved the reflection on Amancio Williams' house and I take this opportunity to recommend two books by a colleague and friend, Daniel Merro. La Casa Sobre el Arroyo deals with this project. The other book, El Autor y el Intérprete, studies the Curutchet House, which Amancio Williams developed based on Le Corbusier's project.”
Re: A Magic Box (one of my projects, details inside)
“You open my mind to a world very different from my daily routine.”
Re: My professional opinion about the only optimum that really makes sense
“Somehow the emails manage to make me feel close to someone I admired only for his way of writing and then for his architecture. It made me feel that all of us, no matter how small our (not very famous) work, do things that matter in people’s lives. I take the liberty of thanking you for taking the time to write these emails.”
Re: Business a la Puttanesca
“This essay on the Mies buildings brought back some memories of the building.
You may remember that I am from Chicago and went to the University of Illinois. I spent three years on the Chicago Campus which you probably saw when you were having dinner.”
This person continues with wonderful memories around the Lake Shore Drive Project by Mies van der Rohe. I´m happy that the newsletter provokes such connections.
Re: 7/8. Spain (2010-2016): Six Years of Sedimentation
“It’s very interesting to read your mails you are sending. I think it will become a great book of essays on your transnational experience as an architect. Think about it. I know that the purpose of it is different…”
Re: 1/8. You will know if this does NOT interest you in about 2 minutes
“I don't understand architecture, although I love it, but I know a lot about writing and you write very, very well!”
Re: 2/8. Spain (1987.09-1996.10): Chemical Reactions
“I completely understand your point of view about coffee, I also had my personal issues about it.”
Re: A SACRED Museum of Chocolate??? (Part II-B)
“My absolute favorite chocolate experience is the Chocolate Theatre by Zotter in Austria (and also in Shanghai). You should go!”
Re: How We Designed a Tower for The Monkey King
“YOU ARE GREAT. You are dominating CHINA”
About China and the Monkey King… you know that I have a story to share with you:
The story of a wonderful project that vanished.
The story of a very bitter lesson about the business of architecture, so that you can avoid my mistake.
The story that you get it in the first email, after you subscribe. It is up to you…