January 2014

Rafael de La-Hoz and Fernando Caruncho led the “Conversations about water. Architecture and design” at the Roca Madrid Gallery

The event, which was attended by around 150 persons, took place last Wednesday, February 4th, within the framework of the 6th edition of the international contest Jumpthegap for young architects and designers

Architect Rafael de La-Hoz, landscaper Fernando Caruncho and Josep Congost, design manager of Roca, participated in the colloquium. The conference was moderated by Isabel Roig, head of the Barcelona Design Center (BCD)

Architect Rafael de La-Hoz and Fernando Caruncho, landscaper and philosopher, led an interesting conversation regarding water, in which both presented their view. The first explained the origin of water at home, inside the house, functional water, used for the body’s health, while the latter spoke about water outside the house, dedicated to the mind’s care and health. In the end, they spoke of useful water and ornamental water.

Josep Congost then explained the necessary relation between water and architecture and design. He mentioned the steps that a good design must follow and underlined how essential it is to think of the product as a link between people and their needs.

The origin of the bathroom, as the 21st century’s technological invention; the English “puritanism”: gadgets for the body, but without touching the body…; the bathroom as a non-habitable, boring space; the idea of rescuing the bathroom as a habitable, social and leisure space (the hamam); the use of water in different cultures; water as an enjoyable, life-generating source; the cosmos is blue, it is water; water as an element of civilisation: “the development of technology prevents us from considering a wiser use of the elements; we have too much technology and lack humanism…’; water as an element of hygiene at home, compared with ornamental water in the garden, outside the house… These questions and others were expressed over this meeting in which, given the wide interest generated by this topic, the public actively participated.

All speakers agreed on the fact that design has to be honest in the architectural projects, take care of the details and respect the environment. All this implies establishing an emotional and functional design, as asserted Isabel Roig, in addition to making good use of the water, a basic element in the nature and in our lives, Fernando Caruncho said.

15 days before the closure of the registration period to participate in the 6th edition of Jumpthegap, the speakers gave some orientations about working in the future of design and architecture, such as, for example, redefining the concept of bathroom space, by modifying the current limitations..

During all the conversation, the attendees were encouraged to participate in the contest www.jumpthegap.net, an international platform for young architecture and design professionals and students.

For more Information

Soledad de los Reyes

Communication

Phone: +34 (0) 917 453 500

Email: sreyes@rafaeldelahoz.com

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