Fernando Martín Menis

Born in 1951 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, studies Architecture at ETSA Barcelona. In 1981 forms a team with architects Felipe Artengo Rufino y José María Rodríguez Pastrana Malagón; This collaboration results into Artengo, Menis, Pastrana Architects. From July 2004, Menis is working independently with his own studio.

Prizes

Individual:
1st International Competition for Industrial Design: Un objeto para b.d., with arq. Inés Rodríguez Mansilla. Chaise Longue YUH (1989); 1st Prize Manuel de Oráa. MM House (1989); finalist FAD MM House (1999);

With partners:
1st Manuel de Oráa 2006 Magma Arte Y Congresos and 6 other 1st prizes Manuel de Oráa; finalist FAD 2006 Magma Arte Y Congresos. 1st Prize FAD, Canaries Presidency Headquarters (2000); finalist VIII Architecture Biennale Spain (2005) and finalist European Prize for Public Urban Space (2006) Swimming Pool on Spree Berlin.

Competitions

1st. Puerto de la Cruz Seafront (2004), 1st Agulo and Vallehermoso Historical Center Rehabilitation. La Gomera (2005); 1st.Muvisa Social Appartments (2005); 1st Auditórium in Los Llanos, La Palma.
Lectures
Menis is visiting professor, leads workshops and lectures in Vienna, Graz, Havana, Berlin, Paris, Roma, Barcelona, Valencia, Leon, Castellon, Santiago de Compostela, Benicassim, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santander, Adeje, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Exhibitions

Individual:
Berlin, Galería Aedes 2-19 febr 2006; Stuttgart, Universidad Técnica, 22 may-2 june 2006.
With partners:
Tenerife, Stuttgart, Londres, Alicante, Berlin, Las Palmas, Valladolid, New Delhi (1988 – 1998), Shanghai, Berlin, Zurich, Malaga, Madrid, Venecia, Hamburgo, Comillas – Santander, New York-MOMA, CCCB arcelona, Biennale di Venecia 2006. (1999 – 2006).

Publications

Catalogues:
Frei Otto. Artengo – Menis – Pastrana, Academia dell`Arte, Florencia, 1996; Morphologische Architektur. Artengo- Menis- Pastrana. Aedes. Berlín, 1997; Sede de la Presidencia del Gobierno de Canarias. Actar 2000; Phaidon 10x10 (2000); Catalogo Oficial de AE2005, 2005,Fernando Menis. Topography and materiality, Aedes, 2006

Reviews and Magazines:
Pasajes, Quaderns, Arquitectura Viva, El Croquis, Basa, COAM Domus, Area, On, Diseño Interior, Arquitectura Industrial, Techniques et Architecture, Archicréé, Architectural Record, Wallpaper, A U, Der Architekt, Daylight and Architecture etc


DESIGN

Situated in an exceptional location, in one of the biggest tourist destinations in Spain, Magma Events Centre is a reference point amongst anonymous buildings. The surrounding semi-desert landscape and the ocean presence have been used as starting points in its design. Although it is not directly beside the sea, there is an unequivocal relationship between the two. The sea has an imposing presence that provides the setting for the building, with views out to La Gomera island. Lying on high ground, at a height that marks its profile against the sea, Magma Art & Congresses takes advantage of its relationship with the ocean. Close up, it looks like an arrogantly-shaped building, irradiating strength and expressivity, and from further away it merges with the landscape, blending into the environment.

Thirteen geometrical shapes emerge from the ground, housing the different services. These rocks follow the line of movement created in the flowing roof, which looks like a fluid substance, setting the bounds of space in all directions. The flowing waves of the ceiling inside comply with the acoustic requirements, which have been calculated and adjusted through a series of studies.
The goal behind the choice of materials was to maximise the building blending in with its surroundings. To achieve this, local Chasno volcanic stone was used in all the concrete shapes.
For the roof and ceilings, plant fibre panels were used with a toned finish to merge with the landscape colours.