The architects Sergi Sauras and Pau Garrofé, graduates of La Salle-URL, will have a project exhibited at the Venice Biennale of Architecture.

You have been selected to be present in the Spanish pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Architecture. What has this process been like?

Pau Garrofé: In each edition of the Biennale, a specific theme, relevant to society, is studied. This year the overall theme is "freespace", or "free space", which the Spanish pavilion has interpreted under the slogan "Becoming", where they have selected national projects that work on the idea of "constant change". That is, spaces that evolve with the passage of time and people.

Sergi Sauras: Last year we had the opportunity to create an installation for the Festial LlumBCN entitled "Elogi de l'ombra", which gave visitors the freedom to be protagonists or spectators of an ephemeral scenography with a lot of poetry. We presented the project to the Becoming' commissioners, and he turned out to be one of the chosen ones.

Explain to us the project "Elogi a l'ombra" that you created for Llum BCN 2017.

S. "Elogi de l'ombra" is a sensory experience that turns a space in the heart of Barcelona into a shadow theatre where visitors are the most important thing: its free movement shapes and disfigures the perception of space at every step. Inspired by his eponymous book by the Japanese author Junichiro Tanizaki, we wanted to create an effect where architecture, scenography and poetry were mixed.  

P. The courtyard of the Frederic Marès Museum is a beautiful place in itself. Our proposal respected the existing elements but transformed the way of perceiving them, inviting visitors to enter into an undefined and constantly changing experience. We received thousands of visitors during the three days of installation and each of us experienced the space differently.

It is a project that has had a long history and has been awarded several prizes such the Lamp Lighting and now at Biennal. Why do you think it worked so well? What would you highlight?

S. This success was totally unexpected, it was our first project together and we just wanted to create an experience that visitors would enjoy. Recognition is welcome, but for us the important thing is good work.

P. The truth is that we are very happy with everything we have learned during this time and the people we have met through this project. However, what still makes us more excited is to meet people who still remind us of the experience they had with "Elogi de l'ombra".

What do you expect from your experience at Biennale?

P. Observe a lot! Meet the rest of the selected, share concerns and enjoy the experience of being present on the opening day.

S. Interestingly, we started this project during the visit to the 2016 Biennale. To be part of the 2018 one closes a circle in which we have lived many good moments and opens another one that we face with the desire to do new things.

Sergi, you also won an Arquia scholarship and are currently at the Aires Mateus studio in Lisbon. How are you living this international experience?

S. Learning every day. Seeing how a studio of this level works is a unique opportunity to continue growing as an architect. It is an inspiring environment where I am surrounded by people with enormous talent for design and construction. I am currently developing an executive project for some houses on the coast of Portugal.

Pau, what are you into now? 

P. I have recently delivered the final project of the degree, and I am working at the same time, I am focused on acquiring knowledge and experience to be able to apply them later.

And do you have any future projects planned as a tandem?  

P. Over the past few months we have been working on personal projects but always in contact with each other about new joint ideas.

S. Yes, we understand each other very well inside and outside the studio. L'Elogi de l'ombra has been an exciting journey and we don't want it to stay here. There'll be more coming.