Cierto Estudio

For us, they are more than familiar to us, as we have long-standing friendships with some of them. Cierto Estudio are Marta Benedicto, Clara Vidal, Anna Llonch, Carlota de Gispert, Lucia Millet and Ivet Gasol. Six architects that seven years ago, shortly after finishing their architecture degree, decided to bet on their profession and set up a cooperative that today is a more consolidated project and one of the studios with more projection of the moment.

After months of trying to balance our schedules, the moment has arrived. We met them in their studio in Poblenou; models, plans, thousands of material samples and a very extensive collection of perfectly placed architectural publications. As we prepare for the photo shoot, we start with the questions:

NT-How do you articulate your creative process/how do you approach each project?

EC-We begin the design process by setting out the objectives and needs that our project must meet. Thus, these premises acquire the conceptual character that guides our proposal. In addition, the site itself often inspires us in some way and conditions the design.

Often, starting with the architectural plan, we begin the drawing with initial sketches that cover the whole of the project and that clearly and forcefully stage the desired concept. Subsequently, we work on the materiality through collages or still lifes with samples of materials that help us to imagine the overall atmosphere.

NT-What have been the biggest handicaps you have encountered in these years of consolidation of the studio?

EC-We would say that being six partners is our strength, but at the same time it has meant more effort to push the studio forward. On the other hand, our youth, which gives us the spontaneity that characterises our projects, has also deprived us of access to some restricted competitions, or to clients for whom experience is essential.

NT-Urbanism, interior design, installations, housing? Is there any area of design that you would like to experiment with that you haven't done yet?

EC-We would also like to enter the world of retail or catering, as it can sometimes lead to more daring proposals. We would also love to design exhibition spaces or museums, where people can enjoy culture as well as architecture.

NT-Being based in Barcelona, how do you deal with interior design projects in which you have to project on such a characteristic ornamental load (hydraulic floors, stained glass windows, the famous "volta catalana"...)?

CE-We always try to maintain and highlight these types of elements, without our proposal detracting from the importance of the architecture of the place. We are fortunate to live in a city with a great architectural tradition and we want to promote its protection.

"We are fortunate to live in a city with a great architectural tradition and the studio wants to promote its protection".

NT-What is your greatest architectural reference or what architectural style/movement has influenced you the most?

CE-We are inspired by architecture of different styles and different periods, from post-war Milanese architecture (Asnago e Vender, BBPR or Caccia Dominioni), to Catalan architects such as Bofill, Correa Mila, or Elias Torres, or the most current international scene, studios such as Bruther, 6a architects or Kazuyo Sejima.

"We are inspired by architecture of different styles and different periods, from post-war Milanese architecture, to Catalan architects, to the most current international scene".

NT-Your most special project, the one you are most fond of/have enjoyed the most.

EC-As we are six partners, there will be a diversity of opinions, but the project that has made us grow and from which we have learned the most is Illa Glories, the social housing building we are building in Plaza de las Glorias in Barcelona. It was a competition we won in 2016, when we were just starting to create the studio, and now in 2022 we are finally starting work, and we are especially excited to put our mark on one of the spaces that will transform Barcelona the most.