In these uncertain times of global emergency, to #stayathome is the imperative necessity. Can this “suspended time” be transformed into opportunity and can creativity help us to see a light at the end of this tunnel and imagine a future beyond the coronavirus crisis? "We have the ability to work imagining something in the future, and from there we generate a series of mechanisms to solve it. In this uncertain situation, I think it is a great quality that we must take advantage of", says Ramón Esteve.
We asked the Spanish architect and designer about the impact of these drastic changes on the perception of time, on his work and the creative process.
How is the current situation affecting your life and work?
On a personal level, I am fortunate to be confined to my country house, where I can, at least, take walks in the garden. The worst part of being confined is not being allowed to go out for a drink with my friends or to have dinner at a restaurant, because I really like to so socialize. However, I am taking this situation as something positive that has given me the opportunity to slow down the dizzying pace I was living at because of my work, which made me always hurry to and fro. Now I have time to read, meditate, do sports and become nurtured with interesting things without external distractions.
As for work, our team and I continue to word online because we have the advantage that we can continue projecting and designing, developing documentation or thinking of new ideas without needing to be physically together. Although this is not our entire activity, we can carry forward.
Ramon Esteve in his home studio in the center of Valencia Ph. © archiproducts
How did you organize, or reorganize, your workspace?
As I was saying, I am confined to my country house where I don't have a specific working place; since the house is designed to spend weekends and holidays only. I work with a laptop and an iPad that I move around different rooms, although normally, for comfort, I work from the kitchen table where I have wonderful views of the landscape. When good weather arrives, the table I have on the porch is going to become my favorite workplace.
Could this “makeshift” be transformed into opportunity for planners and designers? And if so how?
I think that creative professions and designers in particular have an advantage over other jobs, which is that we have the ability to work imagining something in the future, and from there we generate a series of mechanisms to solve it. In this uncertain situation, I think it is a great quality that we must take advantage of.
Are there new projects born from this particular situation?
Not in my case, at least not yet. But I am sure that very interesting things will emerge in the design sector in general, especially related to the digital world.
Ramon Esteve in his home studio in the center of Valencia Ph. © archiproducts
How do you spend your spare time?
I think it is essential to establish a schedule and organize both work and leisure time to make the most of it. In relation to this, I recommend Stefan Sagmeister's TED talk entitled ‘The Power of Free Time’ where he explains it through his own experience.
In my case, on weekdays my schedule is pretty much the same one that we have in the studio, so I spend a large part of the day working and in contact with my team. In the afternoon I combine reading and sports. On weekends, since time is not a problem, I am also trying and learning new cooking recipes.
Do you have any suggestions for your colleagues and others?
I encourage everybody to be optimistic and to face the situation resulting from this crisis with positivity, because I really believe that all the shocks that take us out of our comfort zone are necessary and force us to improve. This is a great opportunity to try new things and reinvent ourselves.
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