We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Uribe Schwarzkopf and LA Arquitectos ("USALA").
Our office has been formed from our personal experiences. The fact that both partners transitioned from a more traditional background to contemporary education has influenced us and nurtured our growth and also allowed for a better understanding of our different surroundings. Having worked in multiple countries and traveled around the many extremes of the world gave us the tools to help move a local Ecuadorian architecture to a global perspective and push our personal agendas of materiality and form. The unique experiences constantly provoque conversation for the opportunities of creating a better place with the simplicity of good design.
Uribe Schwarzkopf and LA Arquitectos Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Uribe Schwarzkopf and LA Arquitectos.
Designer Interview of Uribe Schwarzkopf and LA Arquitectos:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
USALA : My background starts with my personal connection to nature by growing up in the woods. Nature inspired me to be a designer from early age.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
USALA : In our design studio we try to bring international and diverse backgrounds that help us produce diverse projects.
DI: What is "design" for you?
USALA : Design is everything and everywhere.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
USALA : Projects with less constraints.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
USALA : A tree. Because they have so many qualities that are impressive. A tree is aesthetically pleasing, has a strong sense of materiality, and is complex and it has a function.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
USALA : A fence in urban Detroit.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
USALA : I have many favorite materials, platforms and technologies. They all go in cycles and they depend on the projects.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
USALA : Late at night.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
USALA : The sculptural aspect and the playfulness during the early stages of design.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
USALA : Intuition.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
USALA : More than emotion, an accomplishment that I have learned something and also sense of relief.
DI: What makes a design successful?
USALA : Simplicity.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
USALA : Aesthetics.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
USALA : A designer has a responsibility to create a product that is efficient and aesthetically pleasing.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
USALA : Contemporary. Be connected to what is happening now and what will happen in the future.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
USALA : I have lived in Northern Michigan, Los Angeles, Detroit, Seattle, Italy, Dubai and Ecuador. All of these places have had an major impact on my design process.
DI: How do you work with companies?
USALA : 100% Collaboration.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
USALA : Be open to and respect the process.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
USALA : I start with a 3D cube based on the site of the project. This is a cube that gets modified, sculpted and perfected with the understanding of different constraints. Needs and energies continually shape the object.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
USALA : Everything that has a sentimental meaning, history.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
USALA : Every day is different depending on what needs to be done. But it always starts with a good cup of coffee. Site visits, clients calls, research, emails... etc.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
USALA : Do not give up. Work hard.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
USALA : The positive is to be part of making the community better and creating inspirations that can amazed in others. The negative is to fight to break the rules.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
USALA : To be open.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
USALA : Curiosity. Never stop being curious.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
USALA : I reach into my past education and continuing education. I use anything and everything available to me, there is no one thing i use more than the other.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
USALA : Designing small or big things is equally demanding. Therefore I try to see the big picture first to use my working hours accordingly and efficiently.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
USALA : I never know, usually depends on client deadlines.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
USALA : What I think about someone else's work.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
USALA : The Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles, California.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
USALA : Developers, private citizens and government.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
USALA : Design without constraints, because the process is not limited.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
USALA : We are working on a private residence on the outskirts of Quito. Always looking for the next project to see where it will take us.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
USALA : It depends on the project. I typically work in the design phase with my partner Gabriela Anker and then we open it up to the rest of our team.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
USALA : We have in the works a 24 story residential tower named “ONE”, also, a private residence known as Selva Alegre, among others.
DI: How can people contact you?
USALA : You can contact me via phone at +593 98448 4987 or via email at aaron@laarquitectos.com