We had the good fortune of connecting with Hugo Marentes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hugo, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I consider that it was the fact that in my country there are no architecture studios specializing in Biomimicry architecture and Exo-Desing and I wanted to develop my ideas with a creative freedom that prompted me to open my architecture studio, since I was a student I had very clear to where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are an international studio for architecture located in Puebla, Mexico

The practice’s work ranges in scale from the design of buildings to interior and product design. Our work covers the entire spectrum of the main architectural challenges, we want to change and create new dimensions in the environment in which we live. Some of the particular issues within projects are the adaptability of space, systems integration, and the relationship of spaces with the environment. We are an international firm of design, architecture, and planning. We offer excellence in design and innovation to create places that enrich the lives of people and help customers succeed. We want o reflect the ongoing innovations in the fields of science, technology, architecture, and design through appropriate creative mediums, in hopes to achieve greater collective enlightenment in sustaining life on Earth and beyond…

Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has risk-taking played in your life/career?
I could have worked as an architect for some firm and I certainly had opportunities to do so, but deep down I felt that I should venture out and try to form my own office. I felt compelled to try.

Risks are necessary to grow both professionally and personally, taking risks is positive, as is sometimes avoiding them.

Whenever we are presented with a risky situation, we call the entire team and ask them to take their point of view into account and analyze whether it is worth it or not.

What is the most important factor behind your success/the success of your brand?
The most famous architecture offices worldwide have a very marked style and each one is unique and different. I consider that the most important factor in our success is our architectural style and the unique forms that we make in each project. Our style is considered biomimicry and since there are not many offices that work with this type of form, it has made our work stand out precisely because it breaks the mold and draws attention to its pure, sophisticated, and elegant forms.

What value or principle matters most to you? Why?
Humility, no matter how brilliant or outstanding someone is, without humility that person loses all value and interest for me.

I had many bad experiences where architects take credit for all the work and glory, leaving aside the enormous work and effort of their team, it is what I hate the most.

In our case, we always mention each member of the team and their role in the projects. Without our team we would be nothing, it is already a great help to be able to recognize your own limitations and weaknesses and surround yourself with people who are experts in their area to complement each other.

What is the end goal? Where do you want to be professionally at the end of your career?
human beings are vain by nature keeping that in mind, I think I would like to leave a legacy that inspires future generations as figures like Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid were for me at the time, inspiring new generations to break the mold, do different things that put aside the monotony and in favor of nature and the environment, which should be the most important end since without it we are doomed.

Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career?
Since I was little I always had an affinity for the arts, especially drawing. I was amazed when I saw a sci-fi movie when I saw the architectural design and how they projected futuristic buildings, in the same way when I read a book like the foundation by Isac Assimov, my mind imagined what the cities they described would look like. Growing up, I knew that I had to study something related to art, which is what I am most passionate about, in order to be able to professionally develop everything that has always driven my creativity and my love for art and design.

Tell us about a book you’ve read and why you like it / what impact it had on you.
I think this is the most difficult question because there are many books and many areas in which they had a significant impact on my life, but it would definitely be Fundation by Isaac Assimov was one of the first books in my life. Assimov was a visionary and anticipated technological developments decades before they happened and even analyzed what impact these new technologies would have on humanity and helped a lot to stimulate my imagination.
In 2020 I had the honor of being able to design some elements for the appletv+ foundation series and that made my love for the saga grow even more.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Puebla, Mexico. IT is a place that is full of national history. I would like to take him to see historical sites such as the Forts of Puebla, the Baroque museum designed by Toyo Itō, the most important cathedrals, and archaeological sites such as the great pyramid of Cholula it is the largest pyramidal plinth in the world at 450 meters per side. It is the largest archaeological site of a pyramid (temple) in the New World, as well as the largest pyramid in existence in the world today. The pyramid is a temple that was traditionally considered dedicated to the god Quetzalcoatl.

I love outdoor activities, climbing, and urban explorations, I would like to take him to the Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes to enjoy the beautiful view of that site and also to taste the delicious gastronomy that the city has to offer such as mole poblano, cemitas and chiles enogada.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my mentor Architect Jose Antonio VillanuevaHe encouraged and guided my creative path, I consider that the fact of having at least one excellent teacher who made me believe in myself and grow professionally, constantly challenging myself thanks to him and the impact he had on my life, I have managed to fulfill many of my goals and dreams. in his words “creativity is not taught, it is motivated”

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marentes.arq/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-marentes-45889b160/?originalSubdomain=mx

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hughmarentes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Voidmarentes

Other: https://www.artstation.com/rohuma

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