The architect began his talk with an informal greeting for those present, which included students and alumni of the ESARQ School of Architecture plus guests and students from other institutions. This, combined with his personal message for Pau Gironés (the son of Catalan architect Toni Gironés, who was in the front row of the audience), set an intimate and relaxed tone for the session.
Solano used the example of his work with brick to illustrate his architectural philosophy, which involves continuous research into this construction material in order to use it exclusively, for both structure and form, and as economically as possible (i.e. using as little material as possible).
He underlined the importance of intelligence as a link between people, and our capacity as humans to think beyond the limits of our knowledge. He also talked about the research he carries out at the universities he collaborates with: in Paraguay, he runs workshops on reforestation and conducts studies into the amount of oxygen required by a community (and how to produce it); while at Harvard, he conducts research into a variety of different subjects, such as robotics and the ability of fungi to calcify sand.
Solano went on to examine the evolution of his brick-based architecture, which has progressed from two-dimensional structures to ceramic space frames in accordance with the ideas of the Mexican engineer Heberto Castillo.
The architect brought his talk to a close by discussing the design for his father’s tomb. This extremely important and symbolic project comprises a square space delimited by four floating beams, which are clad in mirrors in order to reflect their surroundings into infinity. For Solano, it is a place that reveals the existence of simultaneous realities: “What is repeated, endures; and what endures is eternal, and because it is eternal, it is sacred. That’s why eating my mother’s special dish every Saturday is sacred”.
During the question-and-answer session, those in the front row of the audience – namely, Toni Gironés, Ramon Bosch and David Lorente – drew attention to the ability of Solano’s work to transform its surroundings, to which he responded that he views this as an essential part of being an architect. “The minimum number for human beings is two. I’m human, but I don’t have the capacity to transform myself, so I transform the environment around me. If we do it well, our life will move forward. I’m okay if the other is okay”, he concluded.
