One of the meanings of ON-A is the combination of “emotion” and “architecture”, but another is “innovation” and “architecture”. How do you combine the two concepts (emotion and innovation) in your projects? What kind of emotions do you want to elicit in the inhabitants or the people who see your buildings? RICARDO
We try to design buildings that convey something, beyond just resolving a program. JORDI
In the Lounge Bar, which is called “5 Senses”, the client’s original idea was to awaken the senses. That’s why we worked with lights, atmospheres, even smells. The goal was to bring out totally different emotions based on theme nights. Based on that, we understand emotion as the creation of
singular, special spaces that evoke feelings.
Innovating in program, materials and spaces is an undercurrent in our architecture. EDUARDO We did something similar with Sant Pau Cultural Center. We needed to cover the cloisters to protect the existing chapel, so we created a new space using a new way of handling light. Up to that point, the cloister was only lit by daylight. We tried to conjure the vision of being inside a Gothic cathedral, using the openings of a honeycomb geometry, like a huge stained-glass window with ETFE membranes, like large domes inspired by cathedrals. That’s how we resolved the program while also adding emotion to the space.
Another thing that is very present in your architecture is the use of color. At what point in your designs do you introduce it? What other architectural strategies do you use to generate emotional effects in spaces? RICARDO
