Iciar de las Casas

Specialized in Design.

Iciar de las Casas

About Iciar de las Casas

Weco Windows was established by architect Iciar de las Casas and other associates for the express purpose of developing the Weco W2C window and bringing it to market. The company was founded in 2014 in Madrid, and is currently in a start-up phase. Weco's associates are architects with a wide and varied experience in the profession and in the building industry, and the company has developed a closely-knit team of consultants, subcontractors and suppliers, who have participated actively with their knowledge, time and resources in the development of the project. The window is currently in production, and has a growing list of Spanish clients, while Weco has been launched commercially in Europe, the Middle East and the United States. Iciar de las Casas, the director and founder of Weco Windows. is titled as an architect by the Escuela Superior de Arquitectura of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (1995) and holds a Masters Degree in Architecture and Sustainability from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris la Villette (1997). She has worked for over 20 years as an architect, first as a partner in the studio of Manuel de las Casas and then in her own studio, DLC Arquitectos. In this capacity she has designed and supervised the construction of a wide variety of building types, including public housing, commercial housing, private residences, schools and institutional buildings. Her architectural projects have received numerous awards and have been widely published in professional journals around the world.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Iciar de las Casas

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
I guess I have “architecture in my genes” you could say – my father was an architect and my grandfather was a technical architect, both very well known in the profession here in Spain, and I was inspired by both of them. I love everything about architecture: from its history and theory to all the nitty-gritty of detailing and construction.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I have my own architecture studio in Madrid We’ve designed and built projects of many different program types, from private houses and housing developments to social housing, schools and other cultural and institutional facilities. Windows are a new line. I saw the potential for using new technology in windows, ideas that I couldn’t find in the market, and I started talking to technical specialists and got to work.
What is "design" for you?
For me, design is an integral part of architectural thinking. When I design a window I am thinking about issues of space, light, aesthetics, function, structure, materials, economy and the different possible contexts of use. In a way, our windows incorporate a whole philosophy about the role of design in everyday living.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
Anything with a roof on it. Gardens too. And all the elements involved.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
My favorite design is always the one I’m working on right now. At the moment I’m developing new features for the Weco Window, how to make new shapes (round and angled windows), incorporate new operating systems, blinds, screens and other forms of solar protection.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
It’s hard to remember, but one of the first things was a built-in storage wall incorporating closets, shelving and a mini-kitchen for scholars’ dormitories in one of my father’s projects, the Institute of Spanish-Portuguese Studies in Zamora.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Well, for starters, wood, though I could mention tons of others. Wood is not as common a building material in Spain as in northern Europe, but it has an amazing versatility, especially with new techniques of lamination and so on. It’s a wonderful natural material, every piece is unique. I love its warmth and I'm fascinated by the long tradition of craftsmanship in working wood, which we carry forward with our windows. Working with carpenters is one of the great pleasures of making Weco Windows.
When do you feel the most creative?
When I am working on a design problem, I am working on it all the time, not only during work hours at my desk. It's when I'm in the shower, trying to fall asleep or driving the kids to school that I get some of my ideas. But the best time is early in the morning, in the studio, alone, before the hubbub and distractions of the day start.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
designing? Designing is a process of going over and over a problem from every angle, again and again. To get everything right you have to focus on the smallest technical details, without losing the big picture in the process. And you have to have the capacity to anticipate problems, to see also what is not right in front of you, the still-invisible potential consequences of any given situation. 10. What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
What makes a design successful?
A successful design has to meet many different performance criteria, but then it has to have something extra as well, something like the beauty of an elegant mathematical proof, in which everything comes together in a single clear idea.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
Architecture has focused too much in the last few years on creating spectacle. Too many of the clients who Architecture has focused too much in the last few years on creating spectacle. Too many of the clients who commission homes from famous architects are "fashion victims". Their houses are not even functional! My first aim is to make a client happy. And that's what I look for in other designs. I am all for experimentation, research and invention. But always in the service of the function of the building, and with the client's best interest in mind.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Our commitments to environmentally sustainable industrial production and energy-efficient performance are at the heart of our window design. Increasingly, consumers and end users in general are with us in this commitment. With our design, we hope to contribute to the European Union's goals for greatly reducing building energy consumption in coming years.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Design is becoming more and more important in everyday life, and people are becoming more aware of its importance. We are a very visually-oriented society, and a highly technified society, where every aspect of our environment must be designed at some level or another. Designed objects are deployed to try to seduce and fascinate us at every turn, as well as make our life easier.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
I´ve traveled widely to see and analyze the most interesting works of 20th century architecture, and I’ve found inspiration at every turn. I also read everything I can get my hands on. There are so many little-known architects with marvelous work. Somehow that all feeds my imagination, but how the information goes in and ideas come out remains something of a mystery to me. It’s not a direct thing.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
I think I probably come out of the Spanish tradition of designs that are very direct and functional, without fuss or strutting. Spanish architecture is very elegant, to the point, and yet its best practitioners think everything through as if it were the first time anyone had approached the problem, say, of designing a stair or a window. I’d be proud to be considered part of that tradition.
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
I think I probably come out of the Spanish tradition of designs that are very direct and functional, without fuss or strutting. Spanish architecture is very elegant, to the point, and yet its best practitioners think everything through as if it were the first time anyone had approached the problem, say, of designing a stair or a window. I’d be proud to be considered part of that tradition.
How do you work with companies?
Working with clients is very complicated. You are not only selling them a product, you have to educate them along the way about a vast range of technical issues and design considerations. You have to get to know them, understand them, and even psychoanalyze them a bit and offer your best counsel. And I try to make my enthusiasm contagious, to put new ideas into every project, to keep my own interest alive and pass that energy on to them. I do this with my private architectural clients and I find myself doing the same thing with the clients for Weco windows. We end up creating all kinds of custom designs, discovering possibilities that none of us anticipated when we started talking.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
The first problem clients have to solve, together with their architect, is to determine exactly what they want, need and can afford. Clear goals, clear decisions that move forward with the progress of the project. They also have to trust the professional advice we can give them. How to select a good designer? That in itself is a whole process of self-education: looking at whats out there, deciding what you like, and then using the first contacts to test rapport and compatibility.
What skills are most important for a designer?
A good designer must be exacting, demanding of themselves, and in passionate about their work. Then there's the spark of a special, particular imagination, which seems to be innate: either you have it or you don't.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
I still turn to books and magazines. I have a library that spans a couple of generations, from my father and grandfather. and those sources are fundamental when it comes to sitting down for the first time to face a design problem. But of course these references are already all in my head, and it's a question of going back to the masters in order to find that spark of a new idea.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Running a small business, it's not only the designing that takes time. It's very important to reserve a period of peace and quiet each day for creative work, and not let the pressures of business swamp everything.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
t take to design an object from beginning to end? In a way, design never ends. I am always thinking about how to improve our windows. It's a continuous process.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
We are currently marketing our windows in Europe, but we are a young startup and our immediate plans are focused on consolidating the company and insuring its success. Our growth plans include new markets and new window models to meet the demands those markets present.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
I always prefer teamwork. The dialogue with another person, going back and forth over a particular problem, that's when I really manage to think and engage.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
This year, we received development funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 729206. The grant recognizes the excellent thermal performance, innovative design and great market potential of Weco’s W2C window. We have also received a number of other awards this year, most recently the German Design Award.
How can people contact you?
You can start on our webpage, www.wecowindows.com. Our contact information can be found there, we'll answer your queries right away.

Extended Interview with Iciar de las Casas

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I come from a family of architects – my grandfather, my father and various uncles and cousins. And my mother is a painter. So design and architecture have been part of my basic formation since I was a child. I studied architecture in Madrid at the Escuela Superior de Arquitectura of the Polytechnical University (ETSAM), which included a year at the Venice School of Architecture. I have a Masters degree in Architecture and Sustainability from the Ecole nationale supérieure d'architecture de Paris la Villette. And I've worked as an architect for more than 20 years, opening my own studio in 2009.
How did you become a designer?
In high school I took a course of study in the sciences, but when it came time to enter university I realized I wanted to be an architect. Maybe there was a youthful resistance there, perfectly logical, to not follow in the family tradition, but I finally realized that was what I really wanted to do.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I did indeed choose the profession, and I am passionate about architecture. I learned a great deal from my father, but I have always marked my own path.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
While Weco Windows continues to grow I am determined not to give up my architectural practice. I have a program of research and design for future windows and their applications that I am currently carrying out with my colleagues at Weco. And who knows what other inventions in the field of building products may occur to me? There is so much to do, so much to improve on!
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
If you are truly passionate and determined, you can achieve your goals. Remember that the design idea is only a small part in the development of a new product. And cast your net widely, be curious about everything. You need a vast field of reference to draw on to design creatively, it doesn't just happen in a vacuum. The context you create around yourself and the design problem is fundamental. And breakthroughs come not from just solving problems, but from formulating the right problem to solve, and asking the right questions. It might be worth pointing out as well that I have lived in Spain, France and Italy, and speak all three languages. And I've traveled all over the world, searching in each place for innovative and interesting architecture. To have familiarity with different cultures, to be cosmopolitan, adds a fundamental breadth of perspective. These factors may seem intangible, but they are in fact essential in having a broad context of reference to draw on.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
Great designers have a unique take on things, a particular vision. You can see their hand in everything they touch. They are also, in general, remarkably curious, intelligent and open to everything.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
A good design is not only visually appealing; you have to put it to the test, and discover all the problems it anticipates and solves.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Good design is a basic ingredient of a good quality of life, it raises life above the humdrum. For businesses, the producers of consumer goods, real estate developers and others responsible for the built environment, good design is a fundamental responsibility for the common good. It forms part of the basic ethics of being part of a community. Criteria of naked economic gain are not justification enough.
What is your day to day look like?
Exactly what I am doing right now, developing the Weco Window and working as an independent architect in Madrid.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
One thing to take into consideration is to count on the best technical advice. Consult the specialists, and learn from them. Our windows wouldn't have been possible without the expertise of specialists in glass, hardware, carpentry, extruded metals and so on.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
Many of the master architects of the 20th century were great inventors as well. One who inspires me most is the Swedish architect Sigurd Lewerentz.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Be curious, open, reach out. Read literature, philosophy, study the music, art and history of every culture.

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