Q+A with our new associate, Luis Ausin Gomez.

26.11.19

What are your qualifications.
I studied Master of Architecture and I am a registered Architect in Spain. I’ve also studied 8 years of Music and Piano in the Conservatory.

When did you realise you wanted to be an architect?
As a child, I used to pass entire days with friends discovering buildings and hidden treasures in the old quarter of my hometown. I grew up with a strong sense of discovery linked to places with so much history. Years later, I found the same sense of discovery and curiosity doing projects at the school of Architecture.

What attracted you to the profession?
The possibilities of architecture hinging on the duality of utopia and necessity. I believe that question does not get fully answered, which calls for constant innovation. It’s scary to feel sometimes a certain degree of complacency in our profession.

What has been the most significant influence on your career to date?
Without a doubt it has been the people I’ve worked with and many of them have become good friends. Over the last 12 years, architecture has given me the opportunity to work in 4 continents with amazing people, which is what matters at the end of the day.

What attracted you to Australian architecture?
Its answer to nature with minimum use of materials and lightness. It’s radical and meaningful.

What do you think are your best qualities? How do these qualities help you in your work?
I’m curious about things and I also need to know ‘why?’

What attracted you to working at AJ+C?
Its contextual approach to projects. It has a great range of projects across very interesting sectors that provides great opportunities for innovation.

What is it about AJ+C that makes you most proud of working here?
Being part of the sports sector team has been great.

What’s been your greatest accomplishment at AJ+C?
I’m grateful for the opportunity of having contributed to some of the projects developing in NSW regional areas. In particular, Police Community Youth Club (PCYC) Walgett. The location and conditions have driven the design to be cost effective, easy to build and maintain.

What do you enjoy most in your role?
Setting up and developing strong architectural strategies that are capable of growing through the hardships of a project process and becoming meaningful to all the agents involved in it. Beginning to end.

Which project in your career have been the most significant to you? What was it about that project that was important for you?
All of them for different reasons. I would mention the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. We were a young team of architects out of the school, working collaboratively, over 4 years: discussing, researching, experimenting, making decisions… We didn’t give up any of the main design principles we thought were critical. It taught me that nothing is irrelevant in a project.