Santiago Vitta, representing his team, proudly told FM Latucumana about the process they had to go through to be able to materialize the space they dreamed of together. By Gabriela Neme. Video.
FOA HOUSE is an exhibition of architecture, design and industry, which has been taking place since 1985. This initiative was created by Mercedes Malbran de Campos with the purpose of supporting the campaigns and activities of the Argentine Ophthalmological Foundation (FOA) Jorge Malbran. This exhibition stands out for being a space that encourages creativity and promotes the culture of Argentine design, recognizing it as an agent of social and economic transformation. It is positioned as a reference in the generation of design trends, as well as a platform for the launch of industry products. It is a space where designers and architects have the opportunity to showcase their skills in addressing the challenges of contemporary living through creativity and experimentation. The FOA headquarters throughout these almost 30 years have generally occupied buildings of heritage value in various areas of the City of Buenos Aires.
Two years ago, after the decision to make it more “federal”, it also began to be developed in Córdoba capital. This year, under the motto “Living in the city”, they sought to respond to the current dynamics in large cities, increasingly diverse, dynamic and changing. The design proposals attempted to provide solutions to the multiple lifestyles and needs of people living in urban centers, marked by the post-pandemic.
For a month, the chosen headquarters was the mega project “Pocito” by the developer Proaco, located in a strategic enclave within the Young District, between the Güemes neighborhood and Nueva Córdoba. A set of 3 residential towers of 36 floors, of which the ground floor and the first two floors of one of the towers were taken. 38 spaces were set up, covering an exhibition area of 4,720 m2 that included a shop, a cafeteria and an auditorium. It is estimated that this edition exceeded 50,000 visitors who came to Córdoba from different parts of the country.
That’s how the invitation came to Ethereal Studio, he the only representative from Tucumán in this very high-scale exhibition. The architect Santiago Vittarvisited the studio of La Tucumana FM 95.9representing his team, also headed by architects Diego Madrid and Daniel Tello, who have been developing their activity since 2016. With his sympathy and spark, Santiago proudly told us the process they had to go through to be able to materialize the space they dreamed of together.
The young architects created a character: Amancio, whom they imagined as a 75-year-old man with deep roots in the heart of Tucumán, who was born and raised in a humble home with a large family. They describe him as a restless character, in permanent search for knowledge that led him to transcend the borders of his small town until he arrived in Córdoba to study industrial design. His professional career was successful internationally, however, he always maintained the duality of two worlds: a dichotomy that defines his life and his constant search for identity. This is how a Work Workshop for Amancio is proposed, representing the two possible worlds of the carpenter, in an area of 152m² with a square shape of 13m x 11.74m and a height of 5m.
The stage space was designed to reflect the soul of the craft, they used traditional “naked” materials and evoked Amancio’s Tucumán roots. However, at the same time, modern technological elements and materials were incorporated that enhanced the sophistication and innovative character of the carpenter.
I had the opportunity to visit Casa FOA and particularly tour the Etéreo Studio space with special attention. Upon entering I was pleasantly surprised by a warm and welcoming atmosphere, which surrounded me with the aromas of fresh wood. The element that struck me the most was a Black Taurus quartzite totem that was curved. I perceived it as a sober, simple but elegant space, which drew my attention to its protagonist: a huge and robust wooden work table crowned by a screen made of branches, created by an artist from Salta.
When recounting his experience during this dizzying process of design and assembly of the Amancio Workshop, Santiago recognizes that in his Studio they are used to accepting new challenges, but that it is the first opportunity they have to participate in this type of exhibition, where the times of work are extremely limited. The added bonus of not having references in the local market, but in the process they met suppliers and colleagues who guided them on this challenging journey.
Vittar says that they experienced an intense month of construction assembly and involved many kilometers traveled due to the numerous trips involved. However, all the effort was worth it, since this experience left them invaluable gains: very good friends, the possibility of entering a national circuit and removing fears, leaving their comfort zone and entering interior design. This is how they maintain that they are open to the new challenges that arise. Such was the success of this proposal that it seems that Amancio came to life, because people asked themselves: “When is Amancio coming?”
The professionals felt a great responsibility for being the first Tucumán studio to participate in this and without a doubt they rose to the occasion. It’s about being where they were, at the right time. The success of their proposal at Casa FOA not only gave them recognition, but also promoted the projection of local design in Tucumán, generating a feeling of pride and hope in the regional design community.
