Balzar Architects isan architecture and interior design firm based in valencia, Spain, founded in2018 by founder Jose Maria. Balzar Architects is a family firm that unites twogenerations, including Txema Garcia, his son who wanted to be an architect atthe age of six, and Laura Moreno, Txema Garcia's partner. They jointly run thestudio, which aims to create humanized residential buildings for human beings.

Yinji：In your introduction, you became interested in architecture when you were very young. Is it because of your father's influence? What do you think of the profession of architect?
Balzar Architects：Yes it is. My approach to architecture comes from my father. From a very young age, I have known what the work in the studio is about. I usually spent hours between drawings, plans and architecture books after leaving school. What I like the most about our discipline is the combination of the technical and artistic dimensions. Ideas developed through plans and calculations that allow the construction of buildings.

Yinji： "Learning From Valencia" was created in the same year you graduated. What thoughts about architectural design are recorded in it?
Balzar Architects：During my university studies I was involved in teaching the subject of Architectural  Composition together with Professor Cecilio Sánchez-Robles. They were theoretical classes in which we taught to analyze the shape of buildings from the point of view of some authors such as John Ruskin or Steen Eiler Rasmussen. The book "Learning from Valencia" collected these thoughts and led to an exhibition at the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the Polytechnic of Milan. It was a really good experience.

Yinji：We understand that you are an architectural firm integrating architecture and interior design, but architecture and interior design are separated in China. How do you understand the design scale and how to transform from a large architectural space to a relatively small one Interior design?
Balzar Architects：The reality is that it is something very natural in our studio. We understand design in a global way and we apply the same principles when we are designing a building or a table. We always try to design complete environments, to control every aspect that has an impact on the space. We have worked on urban projects, buildings, single-family homes, home renovations, we have even designed the furniture for some of our projects. We believe that working in this way gives our projects a lot of coherence and it makes the process management much easier for our clients.

Yinji：How do you define humanized residential architecture?
Balzar Architects：We use this term to speak of an architecture that has a clearly people-oriented design. And this has to do with two main questions, how spaces are used and what impact these spaces have on people.
On the other hand, we have recently incorporated some design parameters into our projects that aim to improve people's quality of life. These parameters have to do with the quality of lighting, the indoor air, the water that we use and consume and even with the sound that is produced in a space.

Yinji：You, your father, and your wife are all architects. Haha, will you also train your next generation to engage in the design industry?
Now speaking seriously, Laura and I try to impregnate our children with certain values ​​that we apply in our daily lives. We have recently finished building our own house and one of the things that we have been very aware of throughout the process is the impact it would have on the lives of our children. We believe that our job as parents is to expose them to as many inputs as possible so that they find their true passion.

Yinji：Have you been to China before? What do you think of Chinese contemporary design?
Balzar Architects：Unfortunately we have not had the opportunity to be there, but it is a country that we really want to visit and explore. Earlier this year we were invited to collect a design award from the China Landscape Architecture association and to give a talk at an international symposium, but due to the pandemic situation we were unable to travel. This spring we have been invited again and we hope that the situation improves so we can be there. I believe that China is a great power in terms of design, with impressive buildings that symbolize a culture deeply rooted in the past but with the will to be pioneers of the most contemporary design.