Framing nature through architecture: An interview with acclaimed architect Diego Villaseñor

This was not your emblematic interview. Speaking with Diego Villaseñor, the architect, was the astir peculiar interrogation acquisition I person ever had. This legend, considered 1 of the 100 champion surviving architects, invited maine to sojourn 1 of his astir caller works successful Amatlán de Quetzalcóatl, Morelos. After walking down a gorgeous, winding roadworthy mislaid successful the woods, I arrived astatine a location that seemed to beryllium a continuation of the surrounding trees, with a terrace that seemed to interval among them.

Villaseñor sat with an variation of 4 books containing pictures of immoderate of his top works among the much than 100 helium has created successful his 84 years. He took the clip to convey to maine the essence of his architectural philosophy, which helium views arsenic a tribute to beauty, emotion and nature.

For Villaseñor, plan tin lone beryllium viewed wrong the discourse of nature. Does quality exalt the work? Does it make an affectional effect successful the viewer? (Ana Paula de la Torre)

The designer spoke astir his enactment arsenic if helium were seeing it for the archetypal time, feeling surprised, passionate and successful awe of a instauration helium admired. The astir bonzer facet is that successful each representation of his work, quality is the protagonist. His passionateness is evident successful his designs, which are created to exalt nature.

The value of emotion and quality successful feeling alive

Villaseñor was calved successful Tlaquepaque, Jalisco. He was friends with Luis Barragán and artists similar Chucho Reyes. For Villaseñor, architecture is astir utilizing quality to make affectional states that bring retired the champion successful humanity. He sees the location arsenic an hold of nature: “I americium a framer of the landscape,” helium says.

“Humans should person the close to beauty,” helium notes, becoming affectional arsenic helium expounds. For him, feeling accomplished is important, and we tin execute that authorities done the spaces we inhabit. “We request to devour truthful our bodies function, and similarly, we request to consciousness successful harmony to springiness our best.” In this sense, spaces are important successful bringing america to states of contemplation, gratitude and plenitude done beauty.

Villaseñor believes that ocular chaos is an aggression due to the fact that it strays from our existent nature. However, the quality helium creates, with quality arsenic the main factor, is besides inspired by regular life. During our interview, helium mentioned fashionable songs, poems, and accepted clay oregon pre-Hispanic kitchens, specified arsenic the tlecuil — the accepted Mexican stove oregon brazier — arsenic sources of inspiration.

Many of his masterpieces tin beryllium attributed to a funny mind. He is funny successful each forms of life, arsenic good arsenic ideas from doctrine and science. “It is important for quality beings to consciousness moved. When you are moved, you link with thing greater — you are nary longer conscionable an individual. Beauty that stirs the emotions gives beingness much meaning and creates moments of fulfillment.”

Architecture arsenic a tribute to nature

Diego Villaseñor’s architecture is not simply astir including nature; it blends harmoniously with it. In fact, his enactment highlights the area’s earthy quality and views. Additionally, his buildings prioritize the usage of section earthy materials, specified arsenic chromatic and wood crafted by Mexican artisans.

Like the framework for a beauteous painting, earthy backdrops springiness the framework of notation and the “spectacle” that illuminates the prime of a fixed design, says Villaseñor. (Ana Paula de la Torre)

Moreover, erstwhile helium designs a location successful a earthy landscape, helium creates a signifier that respects the surrounding vegetation, causing minimal disruption. His main extremity is to grant quality portion promoting the well-being of its users, truthful helium incorporates existent upwind conditions, temperatures, winds and airy into the design.

For Villaseñor, the travel to a location is arsenic important arsenic the location itself. This is wherefore arriving astatine 1 of his creations is similar a travel done nature. “How you consciousness passim the process of uncovering a location is precise important,” helium claims. To him, a location is simply a earthy hold of the landscape, a spot that protects and nurtures our well-being.

Regarding the challenges facing young architects today, Villaseñor — who has been gathering with woody blocks since the property of six — is clear: “Provide section solutions to section problems.” He believes that appreciating and utilizing section culture, alternatively than chasing planetary trends, is indispensable for creating applicable designs successful harmony with the environment. For him, it is besides a almighty mode to grant a region’s taste richness.

Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican writer and collaborator for assorted outlets, including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.