Miquel Subiras & Miquel Merce
Miquel Merce Architect + MSB Workshop Office
Every project with kids as primary user is always challenging, not only for the scale but also to make the spaces also suitable for fathers, with a calmed and controlled environment. The…
What was the most difficult issue about working within this building type or the most unexpected challenge that may have influenced new thought in your project?
Every project with kids as primary user is always challenging, not only for the scale but also to make the spaces also suitable for fathers, with a calmed and controlled environment. The other fact was to make the first sustainable shop (second hand) in the country, the atmosphere and image you bring to the visitors is crucial. You must give the maximum quality with a very low budget.
So the project must look like a jewelry with the cost of a second hand store and the flexibility for both kids and adults users… answer to this difficulties not only influence but gives to the project its personality and soul.
Did this project expand or evolve your role as an architect in any way? In general, do you feel that the role of the architect is changing on current projects?
The extremely low cost and complex program pushed us, as architects, to believe in, and make this project possible without sacrificing any of the initial concepts or ideas.
The times we are living are complex, and we must work with a different point of view but, as always, with hard work. Here the architecture allows us to create a special space and atmosphere that transmits the philosophy of the shop and answers to all difficulties with one single sculptural and recycled element.
How is your building possible today in a way that it may not have been before and how have trends in technology and society inspired new thought and solutions?
The project himself would be impossible a few years ago, the economy context is the opportunity for the client to believe in this second hand project and make it possible. We try to work on the project with this reality and the architecture makes it possible and transmits the philosophy’s shop.
In the context of this project, how is your office and design process being influenced by current trends in academic curricula and incoming young architects? In turn, how are current projects and processes guiding the ongoing reformulation and development of academic curricula?
Every project is a new process from all points of view, clients, situation, program… We start from zero so everyone could influence and push the level of architecture.
We work also in several projects with all kind of background and experience collaborators, enriching the final result.
We hope also we are almost young enough to be part of these incoming young architects…