João de Sousa Rodolfo - «[…] happiness is made up of love and public recognition.»

He says it would be hard to imagine doing anything else with his life. Despite this, we set out to discover a little more about João de Sousa Rodolfo, a name occupying a unique position within Portugal’s contemporary residential architecture scene. With more than three decades of professional experience under his belt, his career had produced a portfolio recognised for its peaceful elegance incorporating topography, light and everyday living – houses that “breathe”, calibrated to the personality of the people who live in them. CEO and founder of TraçadoRegulador, a well-known name in luxury home design in Portugal, the architect engaged with Villas&Golfe in a frank and personable conversation.

Where does architecture end and João Rodolfo begin? Or does no such separation exist?
It might prove challenging to separate the two, or rather, to imagine doing something different. In fact, I am lucky to have a job that gives me enormous pleasure and that I have been able to pursue for many years. Architecture, the act of creating spaces where life happens, is a constant in my life.

If you could build something that nobody would ever live in, just a poetic gesture, without any function, what would it be?
Perhaps that object would be just a sculpture that could be inhabited or navigated. It would be a kind of labyrinth, full of spatial intrigue that would allow for multiple interpretations – in short, a spatial poem without the many technical, legal, programmatic or economic constraints of everyday projects.

What is the greatest compliment you have ever received from a client and what has upset you the most, originating from the same universe?
Praise is what drives us. I believe that happiness is made up of love and public recognition. The greatest compliments come from clients when they are confronted with the first images of the projects we produce, and they are often not expressed in words, but in the emotions reflected on their faces. As for any negative developments, I cannot recall any. I am not in the habit of keeping track of negative aspects, only the positive ones. And that is another formula for building happiness.

«Praise is what drives us.»

What was the loneliest point in your career and what did you learn about yourself from it?
The 2008 crisis, which got even worse for me in 2011, as we had many social projects with government contracts that did not go ahead, forcing me to significantly reduce the size of my studio in order to survive. That crisis taught me that in order to survive, you need to adopt strategies that make you less dependent on a single market sector. Practising architecture as a business requires the use of appropriate management and marketing tools, as well as the ability to foresee future scenarios.

Who do you turn to for advice when you are caught between big decisions? Is there someone who is your ‘guiding light’?   
I am not in the habit of sharing problems. I identify them and solve them. I only feel like talking about them when they are already solved. Sometimes I am criticised for this – my wife won’t put up with it. She is my constant support and likes me to share what is worrying me.  

Have you ever been emotionally moved by a client? Any stories where empathy went beyond the design?
Yes, I get emotional easily. I remember a couple to whom we were presenting the project and discussing the spatial and functional solutions in the floor plan. A colleague was showing images of the project on a screen in front of the clients, but they did not understand that they were images of their home. They commented, ‘This house is beautiful... it’s really a dream.’ At one point, I said to them, ‘But this is your home.’ The lady was so moved she shed a tear... and so did I.

Do you prefer clients who know exactly what they want or those put their faith in your vision entirely? Why?
I like both types, but I possibly like the second one more. What I really don’t like are clients who change their minds every day without understanding what that means in terms of project costs. Sometimes a small change in the final phase of the project means producing hundreds of new designs.

«I am not in the habit of sharing problems. I identify them and solve them.»

What is your view of social responsibility for architects today?
This is indeed an important issue. Architects influence decisions that have a huge impact on society. I’m not referring to architects as public decision-makers here, but to ordinary architects who make a living from their design work. The construction industry accounts for 13% of global GDP. When designing buildings, energy-efficient materials and solutions are chosen that impact the environment in different ways. We must not forget that 40% of energy consumption occurs in buildings. Architects therefore have the power to influence their clients by steering them towards the most appropriate decisions in the interests of society as a whole.

What do you imagine the ideal city of the future to be like? 
Smaller cities, where cars are not the dominant feature, with entirely pedestrianised neighbourhoods and lots of green spaces, where socialising happens all the time. In other words, a shift away from what has been happening since the industrial revolution, with the repopulation of the countryside and the regeneration and sustainable development of urban centres.

If you could spend a whole day away from everyone and everything without feeling guilty...what would you do?
I think I’ve done that so many times and in so many ways that I can’t find the right answer. I’ve already done it while travelling, playing golf or visiting a winery. And I’ve never felt guilty about it...

Is there any passion outside of architecture that you wish you had had the courage to explore more deeply?
I don’t think so. At 64, I feel perfectly fulfilled and, I can say this with great pleasure, happy. I no longer think about what I want to be or what I still want to do. I look back and say, ‘It was worth it. It was good.’

What has João Rodolfo, the architect, not yet had the courage to say publicly?
Well, almost everything. When I don’t say it, it’s out of politeness, diplomacy or because I might be misunderstood. But today I feel like shouting something out loud: I think we produce too much legislation, which is unclear, sometimes contradictory and creates knots that are difficult to untangle, preventing the free development of economic activities. The professional practice of architecture is no exception.

At the end of the day, what do you want people to say about you: that you were a ‘great architect’ or an ‘extraordinary man’?
I’d rather they say that I am, not that I was, both things. I don’t think I’ll care much about that when I’m gone... I won’t deny that public recognition is comforting for your ego, both socially and professionally. 

«Architects influence decisions that have a huge impact on society.»

What makes you happiest when a project is completed?
That the result is as close as possible to the design and that the work exudes quality from every pore.

We understand that you were recently invited, just as architect Eduardo Souto de Moura was, to design a group of houses in Quinta do Pinhão, close to Lisbon. What was this challenge like?
Indeed, this was a major challenge. Creating a project for a group of 18 houses that will be placed within a context of great environmental quality, in exceptional company, and for a company that excels in the quality of its construction – Grupo Alves Ribeiro. I have a feeling that we did pretty good, as following the 18 houses, we were asked to design a further 35.

After so much success and so many iconic projects, is there any project you still want to do?
The next project. And the next project after that. And on and on. Each project is a new challenge, with new variables and new difficulties to overcome – the game is never the same, it’s always changing and never gets boring.

«At 64, I feel perfectly fulfilled and, I can say this with great pleasure, happy.»