thing is that all the participants proposed to demolish it; I was the only one who wanted to take advantage of part of the existing clubhouse. And it worked, I quite like the building that turned out, it’s larger and does not recall the previous one, its appearance is completely new. CAU: How does your office participate in so many competitions while developing winning projects and other commissions? Until last year we were twelve people, now we are six. I work with architects a generation younger than me. Sebastián Hernández – who’s been with us for more than 15 years - and Milva Pesce, as well as Danilo Martic, Philip Blanc and Tomás McKay, who have separate professional lives, we come and go. With Paulina Courard we also get together for some proposals. Although I thought I was super efficient drawing on the computer, the younger ones really are, their contribution to the competitions is enormous. It is a home-study structure, in which we meet, share ideas, sketch and make decisions. The creative process for competitions can be endless, so it is essential to make quick decisions because there is nothing worse than being late. In my case, competitions have been crucial: if I’ve been able to do so many works it’s thanks to the competitions. RL: Beyond the satisfaction, what does it mean for you to receive the national prize of architecture? As I said in an interview, sometimes it can be overwhelming or inhibiting, ”National Architecture Prize” is too big a name ... Everybody knows how much we all strive to do our work, then why did they decide I was special? I dare to think that it is something I consciously did when I decided to participate in the competition for the Inés de Suárez Park. I thought that if there was to be an issue with respect to public space and landscaping, architects had to be there because it is a field in which we can say something and contribute. I consciously sought to promote that architects have a place in this area, that if not the issue would be left in the hands of planners, gardeners, botanists, ecologists, or administrators. We elbowed ourselves in, and architects today are part of the planning and development of public spaces and the landscape. EB: That strengthens your course for the future? I am already 66 years old. I stopped doing classes because the University told me that at 65 one should retire. And well, it seems that you have to step aside. You adjust to what is expected of you, but to the extent that one is filled with projects and accompanied by young people there is still much ahead.
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