Family Fortunes

Abode2 catches up with father and son design duo Miguel García Quetglas and Andrés García Castiella to discover what makes the island’s architectural legacy tick

Father and son, son and father, both share a burning passion: the desire to create unique living environments that inspire. In 2012, Miguel and son Andres decided to pool their best attributes – well-honed design experience and youthful energy, into the creation of MG&AG Architects, a cutting-edge architectural studio underpinned by the ethos no one should be left feeling indifferent to the worldly role played by design. Now, with more than forty projects under their belts, the duo, working alongside a gifted team of like-minded professionals, are continuing to push the boundaries of “deconstruction” of Ibiza’s traditional architecture.

“We’ve no intention in the years to come of continuing to build in the exact same prescriptive manner we’ve been doing for the past goodness knows how many years - it’s one thing to respect and nurture tradition, but it’s equally important to embrace change and the evolution of design and architectural build,” explains Miguel.

Specialists in the design of outdoor spaces – patios, al fresco dining areas and bespoke terracing with a twist – one of their most recent design projects was the NAME Hotel in the LOCATION of the island. Opting for a nautical theme – the design team successfully brought to life an illusory underwater experience, with the help of three-dimensional marine accents and motifs.

Design commissions today span everything from private villas and homes through to branded night clubs – with five now in operation on the White Isle sporting the duo’s individualistic style. Word it seems, has got out, with a number of new night club openings planned further afield in Bombay, Amsterdam, Peru, and Havana to name but a few.

Winners of the Architecture category in the prestigious national Premios El Suplemento Design Awards 2016, founding partner Miguel is looking forward to the company’s next design venture; “For us – it’s all about nurturing the quality of life that good design brings. As such, it’s vital to identify the value created by thoughtful and responsive architecture. I hope we bring this to the fore in everything we do.”