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ACTIU Berbegal y Formas, S.A.
Blog / Inspiration / ACTIU Talks: Borja Fernández del Vallado of L35 architects
ACTIU Talks: Borja Fernández del Vallado of L35 architects

ACTIU Talks: Borja Fernández del Vallado of L35 architects

SEPTEMBER 2025
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6 minutes
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Borja Fernández del Vallado is an architect and partner at L35 Architects, one of Spain's most internationally renowned architectural practices, with offices in Madrid, Barcelona, Sotogrande, Paris, Istanbul, Bogotá, Milan, Mexico, Santiago and Abu Dhabi. Throughout its career, it has participated in emblematic projects such as the transformation of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium , an example of the studio's ability to tackle complex interventions with a global outlook and local sensitivity. L35 combines architecture, urban planning and design in the same conceptual framework, with the conviction that excellence can only be achieved through collaboration between architects, industry and client.

For Fernández del Vallado, contemporary architecture must go beyond form: it must be purposeful, sustainable and deeply connected to its context. His vision vindicates the alignment between purpose, technology and territory and the need to understand sustainability as an honest response to place. In their work, technical rigour coexists with a passion for innovation and a central idea: what does not exist can be invented, as long as there is a common commitment to make the possible a reality.

"Sustainability cannot be marketing; it must be the result of honest choices.

L35 is a law firm with more than 50 years of history and international presence. How would you describe the philosophy that guides the firm's work and what elements differentiate your approach to projects?

L35 is an atypical studio, almost a "rara avis" within the architectural panorama. We are defined by an attitude of constant improvement, a desire to evolve and not to conform. We believe in an architecture that dialogues with its surroundings, that provides urban value and responds to human needs. Our philosophy is based on excellence, sustainability and transversal collaboration. What sets us apart is our ability to tackle complex projects with a global outlook and local sensitivity, integrating technology, culture and context in each proposal.

You talk about the importance of collaboration and aligning all actors around a common purpose. What does this idea of "shared excellence" mean to you?

Excellence is not achieved alone. A project involves many actors: the client, the architects, the industry, the suppliers and the users. When all are aligned in the same purpose, the result exceeds expectations. The key is to listen, to build trust and to maintain a proactive attitude. A successful project is one in which each party feels part of something bigger.

The Santiago Bernabéu stadium renovation project has been one of the studio's most ambitious. What lessons have you learned from a project of this scale and complexity?

It was an extraordinary challenge. The client wanted an icon for Madrid and for Spain, and we had to transform a historic stadium into a contemporary urban destination. We analysed the flows of the city and the stadium itself, while respecting the original "ribs" that were part of its identity. Coordination with the industry was essential: more than 13,000 parameterised stainless steel parts manufactured in Galicia and a seemingly impossible schedule. But when all the teams commit themselves, the impossible ceases to be impossible.

Today the Bernabéu is a renewed symbol and an example of how architecture, engineering and industry can move forward hand in hand.

When it comes to bringing projects down to earth, to moving from blank paper to reality. How do you manage that balance between the ideal vision and the real limitations?

The blank paper is a dreamlike starting point, but the project only exists when it lands. You have to balance ideas, budget and needs. If no one can finance it or build it, it ceases to be architecture. Creativity has to coexist with responsibility: converting the intangible into something possible without losing ambition or coherence.

In projects like this, the relationship with industry seems decisive. What is the value of this technical and creative dialogue?

It is fundamental. Industry turns the idea into reality. When a supplier or manufacturer tells you "that can't be done", the challenge begins: to see how far we can push the system and find the solution together. The best part of the process comes when the industrialist jumps on the bandwagon and contributes his knowledge to make what seemed impossible feasible. This technical and creative complicity is what gives meaning to the trade.

Sustainability is one of the big issues in architecture today. What does it mean to you to be sustainable "to the place"?

Sustainability is not a slogan or a checklist. It means adapting to the context, taking advantage of local tools and responding intelligently to the environment. In Andalusia, for example, we have worked with traditional building solutions and local resources. This adaptation to the place is true sustainability: it is not about applying technology without criteria, but about understanding what works in each context and how it can evolve. Sustainability cannot be marketing; it must be the consequence of honest decisions. That means rethinking materials, processes and behaviours. It is not about building more, but about building better.

The architect's work cannot be understood without collaboration with industry. What value do you find in this relationship with manufacturers and brands, and how does it influence the materialisation of your ideas?

Collaboration with industry is essential. Manufacturers and brands allow us to realise ideas with precision, innovation and quality. It is a mutual learning relationship: we provide vision and they provide technical solutions that enrich the project. It also allows us to keep up to date with sustainability, certifications and new materials.

L35 has participated in large-scale urban projects, from shopping centres to stadiums and public spaces. What lessons have you learned from this type of intervention and how does this scale change the way we understand architecture?

Working on a large scale forces us to think in terms of the city, mobility, social impact and sustainability. We learn to coordinate diverse teams, manage long timescales and anticipate the future use of spaces. This experience has taught us that architecture is not just about building, but about transforming environments and improving collective life.

Today there is a lot of talk about "humanising" spaces. How do you apply this approach in your work and how do you think architecture can improve people's daily lives?

To humanise is to understand how the user lives, moves and feels. At L35 we apply this approach from the design of routes, natural light, vegetation, to the scale of the elements. We want spaces to be intuitive, friendly and generate wellbeing. Architecture must be empathetic and generous.

What role do new digital tools, from BIM modelling to artificial intelligence, play today in the way you design and develop projects?

Digital tools have transformed the way we design. BIM allows us to coordinate better, anticipate conflicts and optimise costs. Augmented reality improves communication with clients and users. Artificial intelligence is starting to help us in urban data analysis, simulations and the generation of design alternatives.

What trends do you observe in international architecture, especially in the design of public, commercial or leisure spaces, that will mark the immediate future of the sector?

We see a trend towards hybrid, flexible and experiential spaces. In the public and commercial spheres, there is a search to integrate nature, technology and community. There is also a growing interest in circularity, reuse and inclusive design. The future will be more responsive, more adaptive and more human.

In such a changing world, what should an architect contribute today beyond designing buildings? How is your profession redefining itself in the face of social, technological and environmental challenges?

The architect is no longer just a designer of buildings, but a mediator between social, technical and environmental needs. We must bring a strategic vision, a capacity for synthesis and an ethical commitment. Our profession is redefining itself as an agent of change, capable of imagining and building more sustainable and equitable futures.