Throughout the course of history, architecture has stood to be a representation of our society, reflecting values, culture, and even the rise and falls of civilizations over time. The monumental structures, residences, and buildings that make up the fabric of society hold a timeless legacy. Time has passed, and the human mind has evolved, and so has the concept of architecture. With the world becoming more connected, the styles have evolved, and with modern construction practices, architecture has become a discipline. It’s pushing the boundaries of designing structures, not only for the pursuit of craft but to change lives as well.
“Redefining lives with architecture,” as bold as it sounds, such transformational goals need architectural mavericks. In a broad sense, architects strive to deliver a unique design aesthetic that employs design and materials in creative and unconventional ways. The emphasis permeates across all functions, from client retention to design.
As an editor, I’ve always been intrigued by innovators whose expertise lies in going beyond the conventional boundaries of their domain. My interest recently got me in touch with Juan Carlos Baumgartner, Director & Founding Partner of Space Arquitectura. A “passionpreneur” at heart, Juan is an exemplary architect with a record of acclaimed projects. He goes by the title of “Futurist” across Latin America for humanizing the experience of spaces such as offices or hotels. Read on to know his journey to the zenith of success.
PLANTING THE SEEDS OF PHENOMENAL SUCCESS
Born in DF, Mexico, Juan began honing his career as an architect from an early age. He majored in architecture at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, pursued a specialization in art history at Berkeley University in California, earned a degree in interior design at UNAM, and earned a postgraduate degree in industrial design at the Domus Academy in Milan. With such a background, a person ordinarily would want to begin a thriving career in a prestigious architectural firm, but Juan had a far grander vision. He was convinced that architecture has the power to change the world, but there needs to be an interdisciplinary and unselfish version of work.
Keeping that in mind, he founded his firm, Space Arquitectura, in 1999 in the city of Chicago. He dedicated his talent to designing spaces that truly mattered and in which, paradoxically, people spent more time (offices and schools). Big things start small, and something similar happened to Juan. Under his leadership, the firm carved a niche for its commitment to the environment and developing sustainable projects. This earned him and his team LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, awarded by the US Green Building Council.
From there, he didn’t have to look back! Today, the firm has acclaimed projects in 20 countries in America and Europe and is a paragon in the design of corporate spaces, especially for hotels and education. Juan himself has taught at top universities like TEC Monterrey, Universidad Iberoamericana, Universidad Anahuac and UNAM in Mexico, and Virginia Tech and MIT in the United States.
A LEGACY OF BUILDING SUBLIME STRUCTURES
By envisioning a space as a tool to improve architecture and creating a system around it, SpAce has established itself in the cutthroat market of today. It is a hybrid firm whose core elements are design, business consultancy, and wellness specialists. Each and every project of theirs is supported by research and technical advancement, which permeates sustainability and extends beyond the environment to aid in improving the surrounding area. This not only distinguishes it but also keeps it focused on setting their own benchmarks rather than chasing after rivals.
The emphasis on “People-Technology-Space” keeps ideas moving quickly and makes it easier to blend people and spaces. Space’s concept has always been to “Design from the inside out,” which is how it has built a legacy of notable corporate structures, hotels, commercial architecture, points of sale, retail centres, apartments, etc. Among its well-known projects are the Google Mexico offices, the EFIZIA tower (for which Baumgartner won a citation in the 2009 MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards), the Chapultepec Polanco tower, the Moras 850 project (which has Gold LEEDS certification), and the MSN Mexico offices.
RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY: TWO CORNERSTONES
Even though these are two intrinsic pillars of the firm, it is a difficult concept to pin down and define. The fundamental idea behind architecture is developing something distinctive. Interestingly, sound research supports designs in their context. It provides the context’s backdrop and the process’s aim and direction. This helps to comprehend the space story that forms the concept. While many people regard research as “theoretical,” Juan believes otherwise. According to him, one of the challenging aspects for evangelists like him is turning ideas into repeatable, scalable, and implementable actions. This is where the firm’s forte in research comes in.
SpAce has an entire research division focused on cognitive neuroscience applied to design. Juan has a master’s in neuroscience, which has enabled him to form an alliance with a neuroscience lab in Canada to implement joint research. “We have become one of the benchmarks in a new field of design that some know as “neuroarchitecture,” he adds. The research methodologies extend to include innovations in the process. For instance, 15 years ago, the firm had designed an algorithm capable of interviewing thousands of people in 15 minutes and taking an X-ray of each organization that they are going to design.
Given their interest in exponential technologies to understand clients closely, this tool can measure the perception of happiness, health, engagement, etc. This also helps in better understanding the relationship between behavior and architectural models. The methodologies intended to include innovation in the process have bred a book, “Office as a Tribe.”
A KEEN EYE ON SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
The inherent brilliance of SpAce extends to building environmentally aware and sustainable spaces. It offers a special “green range” of sustainable architecture that it calls Gama Verde. The idea here is to create projects that conform to ecological awareness. The methodology and commitment of these projects truly showcase that SpAce is a firm truly dedicated to changing and renovating the concept of interiors. “Our goal is to, at some point, create architecture that not only positively includes people but also one that heals,” adds Juan. Their passion makes them the best at what they do and helps them ace their domain.
THE SPACE TRIBE
Even with the voluminous investment in innovation and research, what keeps SpAce at the forefront is its team. They are the ones upholding the commitment to exceptional design with an unyielding focus on achieving client objectives. Each member of the SpAce Tribe brings a certain ingenuity to the table that contributes to overall excellence. They continually scour possible futures related to trends in design, people’s behavior, the influence of technology on behavioral patterns, and a lot of communication with clients.
This helps to cultivate a culture of innovation and creativity. Along with its multidisciplinary crew of architects, graphic designers, topographers, virtual reality designers, psychologists, lighting, acoustic, and sustainability consultants, the firm also has a leadership team. Their communication and trust give them the liberty to experiment and take initiative as needed. The team works with businesses of all sizes and shapes, but they all share one trait in common: they are smart enterprises that understand how architecture and space can change the world. They treat collaborators as adults who share the same passion and give them the best tools to develop and flourish.
BOLDLY CHAMPIONING THE DOMAIN
It all began with the passion of one man and his belief that architecture could redefine lives in a period that didn’t believe it. But his confidence has proved otherwise, and his vision has designed appealing spaces one can only imagine. Juan’s visionary approach has kept the sails of his venture up high for about two decades, which he is truly proud of. Given how the architectural world has become a cutthroat market, maintaining a leading presence for so long is a challenge. Nevertheless, his and his team’s efforts have been felicitated. Some of the notable accolades include:
In addition, SpAce has been recognized internationally as one of the leading companies in neuroarchitecture. Juan himself is recognized as one of the 300 most influential Mexicans internationally. In the end, he and his teams are a group of friends working on a philosophy and a passion they so deeply believe in. With time, the team will further expand their legacy of appealing spaces that not only reinvent the concept of architecture but also transcend it to new horizons.
A NOTE FOR ENTREPRENEURS
“Fostering a growth mindset will help you both personally and in establishing a culture where issues are no longer regarded as issues but rather as challenges and possibilities that, rather than causing tension, create good emotions.”
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Business Talk is a digital business magazine that caters to CEOs, Entrepreneurs, VC, and Corporates. While working with entrepreneurs and business executives, we focus not only on their achievements. Our mission is to shed light on business entities, including their innovations, technological benchmarks, USPs, and milestones/accolades.
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