Yamel

What architect/artist/designer inspires you and why? 
I’m inspired by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier. They both illustrate the same principle in their concepts—the plan libre executed in concrete—where two horizontal slabs sandwich a space between them. In Mies’ Barcelona Pavilion, the phenomenon of a horizontal mirrored axis, a product of the modern version of the onyx wall, makes it hard to tell what is up or what is down. There is some difficulty of distinguishing the travertine floor, which reflects the light from the plaster ceiling. Mies used material asymmetry to create optical symmetry, rebounding the natural light in order to make the ceiling more sky-like and the ambiance more expansive. He has described this phenomenon to be a “paradoxical symmetry.” The Barcelona Pavilion is more than just a building; it is a complex in which the interior fuses with the architectural landscape of its surroundings to form a single entity.

What physical activity do you like best?
I like mostly outdoor activities, including hiking, bike riding, paddle boarding, roller-blading and walking—mainly along the beach. There is nothing better than touching the water as you walk and breath in the fresh air. All these activities bring inner peace and happiness to my life.

Barcelona Pavilion 1 Barcelona Pavilion 2