Jaime Sanahuja – Sanahuja&Partners – Valencia | Castellón | Ibiza
Auditorium and Conference Center of Castellon | European Business and Innovation Center. IMPIVA | D&E House | Refurbishment Palau dels Osset, Forcall | Sanahuja&Partners architecture and design office in Ruzafa | Quijada Ophthalmic Medicine Clinic, Valencia | Sant Joan de Deu Hospital, Sant Boi, Barcelona | Cervantes Institute Library, Paris | AF&S Notary Offices.
1 – Who is Jaime Sanahuja?
I lead the Sanahuja & Partners architectural firm. Architecture is my profession and passion, and I like to explore all the options and possibilities that a project generates up to the limit.
2 – When did you discover that you wanted to be an architect?
At a very young age, because I loved playing with woods and building games (LEGO did not exist yet) and when someone would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, instead of a firefighter or an astronaut, I would answer: an architect.
3 – A reference in architecture…
Carlos Ferrater, great architect and great friend.
4 – If you had not been architect, you would have been…
I can hardly imagine myself carrying out another activity, I have never considered a different option for my life.
5 – One defect and one virtue.
My defect is dispersion; I like to take on many initiatives and projects at the same time. And I think my best virtue is my persistence and optimism.
6 – What is your house like?
I have several living spaces, not concentrated in just one house: one dwelling in the city of Castellon in a building designed by me, a refurbished town house in the Maestrazgo region, and a small loft space inside the Valencia office.
7 – Sunday is a day for…
Sleeping without an alarm clock, thinking, reading, relaxing…
8 – A place to look for inspiration.
All the spaces where we work are suitable, but certainly the place I feel more comfortable in for designing projects is the attic studio in the Maestrazgo house.
9 – What is the last book that you have read?
E2, by Pam Grout, which explores the energy fields and the potential created from thoughts and emotions.
10 – 15 Years from now…
I would like to continue leading my fantastic professional team, and be able to continue designing spaces like this one for L’Antic Colonial.
11 – When you think of architecture you think of…
People, institutions, clients (who often become excellent friends), who with their dreams and their commissions make architecture possible.
12 – Pencil or computer?
Pencil, colored pencils, markers, everything you can hold with your hand for drawing.
13 – How would you describe your work?
Architecture based on Mediterranean culture, focused on optimizing the program conditions, the light, the setting, and the client’s budget, in order to be able to exceed their expectations.
14 – One project you would like to do.
A skyscraper, a building higher than 100 meters at least.
15 – Your opinion of Spanish architecture.
The Spanish scene is excellent, there are great models and a great sensitivity to designing innovative and high-quality architectural solutions.
16 – How do you keep your own style while meeting your clients’ needs?
More than “my own style” I would talk about my own work methodology, in fact we receive many orders for our way of working as a team, as a network, and optimizing new technologies and programs for designing and carrying out projects.
17 – In architecture, what are you better at and what do you have more trouble with?
What I enjoy the most, and therefore I’m better at, is the intervention in already built spaces, in historic buildings, for their refurbishment and new emphasis. What I have more trouble with is considering a project as finished, it always seems to me that it could be improved more, I’m rather perfectionist.
18 – Your recipe for success.
Optimism, perseverance, and focus.
19 – What is the role of natural products in your projects?
We like to design warm and bright spaces where people are comfortable and enjoy the experience of living them. For this purpose we tend to choose natural products, such as wood and stone. They are our favorite products, for the feelings they generate.
20 – Your flagship L’Antic Colonial product is…
We extremely appreciate all the research work and the search for natural materials made by L’Antic Colonial, mainly for wood and stone.
