2
Mrz

Interview with Juan Ignacio Ramos

Juan Ignacio Ramos with his his children Ignacio and Soledad

It’s been awhile since the last interview. Thanks to each and everyone of you who haven’t stopped sending me emails asking when the next one will be posted. Special thanks for the lovely emails of Asa from Finnland, David from New Zealand, Annalisa from Belgium and Johanna from Sweden. I’m working on my decoration book putting decoration love into words and photos. There is no much time left before it goes to print in September. But the interviews on the blog are back. Please come with me to Buenos Aires to meet architect Juan Ignacio Ramos of Estudio Ramos.

What was the moment when you knew you would be an architect?

My father is an architect and I remember as a very young kid going to his office and scrawling on those old drawing boards. Probably since then, I thought I would be an architect. I always wonder what would have happened if my father had had a different career.

Is there something that connects all your projects?

There are several things that connect all our projects. First of all, our main focus is the well being of our clients. Through our designs, we try to make their daily lives more satisfying and pleasant. Also, in every case, we take into consideration issues of scale; in relation to our clients, and in relation to subjects of sustainability. Obviously, aesthetic considerations are fundamental: the noticeable horizontal lines, the combination of very few elements, the care for the proportions and the simplicity.

Looking back at your first project what design knowledge do you wish you had back then?

I still appreciate my first project very much, the Sternberg House. It was very revealing and I learned a lot from it. I understand that my work is a long learning process, and I am happy with the innocence and freshness of that first commission.

What do you enjoy most in your work?

I enjoy the creative process and walking through a finished assignment. But if I had to choose one, it would be designing. The joy that I experience every time I finish a design is huge.

What do you love to do when you are not designing?

I love listening to music, appreciating art and practicing sports. Art is a big source of inspiration.

What are your favorite books?

Art and architecture books.

What are your favorite places in Argentina?

Buenos Aires, its suburbs and Patagonia.

What does success mean to you?

I feel very fortunate in being able to do what I like and sharing it with my daughter Soledad and my son Ignacio who are architects as well and my partners. To me, that is success.

What’s your advice to upcoming architects?

To draw a lot and to trust the lines, because the solution always comes from the drawings.

What are the most important design elements?

I believe that the most important elements are the same in architecture as in music or painting: light, color, texture, proportions and harmony.

11
Feb

House in Brazil

Architecture, Houses

Traumhaus in São Paulo gefunden… Die Schiebewand – Foto 2 – ist unglaublich. Architektur: Guilherme Torres

Dream house in São Paulo found… The sliding walls – photo 2 – are incredible. Architecture: Guilherme Torres

Guilherme Torres

3
Feb

Desert House in California

Architecture, Houses

Traumhaus gefunden… Das Black Desert Haus mit Blick auf die Wüstenlandschaft des Joshua-Tree-Nationalparks. Architektur: Marc Atlan und Oller & Pejic

Dream house found… The Black Desert House with views across Joshua Tree National Park in California. Architecture: Marc Atlan and Oller & Pejic

design boom

23
Jan

House in Lebanon

Architecture, Houses

Der Gewinner in der Kategorie Wohnungsbau der Zukunft des WAF ist das Meditationshaus in Libanon, MZ Architects

Future projects house winner of WAF is the Meditation House in Jbâa, Lebanon by MZ Architects

photos: marwan zgheib via designboom

22
Jan

House in Melbourne

Architecture, Houses

Techné Architects, photos: Shannon McGrath via urbis

21
Jan

House in São Paulo

Architecture, Houses

architecture: Fernanda Neiva of Galeria Arquitetos via desire to inspire

14
Jan

Backyard Office

Architecture, Workspace

sett studio via cabbage rose

13
Jan

Architect’s Home in Milan

Architecture, Living room

So sieht das Haus des italienischen Architekten Antonino Sciortino aus. Guten Wochenstart!

A look inside the home of Italian architect Antonino Sciortino. Happy new week!

rum via mechant design

8
Jan

House in Rio de Janeiro

Architecture, Houses

So sieht das Haus des Fernsehmoderators Alex Lerner aus. Location: in der Nähe von Pedra da Gavea Felsen – der größte einzelne Granitblock in Meeresnähe.

A look inside the home of TV host Alex Lerner near the Pedra da Gavea, one of the highest mountains in the world that ends directly in the ocean.