In this extraordinary book we see the work of six Guatemalan architects, six creative voices who, in an individual or collective form, have redefined and given a poetic spatial quality to the contemporary architecture of their country. Members of the firm known, quite simply, as "Seis Arquitectos" (Peter Giesemann, Carlos M. Lara, Raul Minondo, Ernesto Porras, Rodolfo Solares, Rafael Tinoco), they are exponents of a style with a minimalist touch and a strong commitment to the value of the abstract, the geometrically pure and the spatially rich.
Without falling into a reductionist posture, their design proposals seek a primal purity based on ideas which emphasize that form and space shape and adjust themselves to function, without superficial ornamentation, nor the utilization of rigid axes, nor the imposition of classical orders.
Guided by a romantic minimalism, they give a frank expression to the structure that delineates the different ambits they create, giving priority to the light that defines the simple and austere forms of their architecture.
A passion for light and natural beauty drives them to establish a dialogue between the exterior and interior spaces, causing architecture and nature to interact and create areas that are strongly illuminated by direct light or by means of great panes of glass.
The designs shown here cover a range of expressions, from serious and formal buildings for banks, offices and stores to private homes and housing developments in which rural and urban living interact.
The architecture of "Seis Arquitectos" is an architecture that respects and fits into its particular context, recognizing the value of place as the receptacle of cultural traits that complement the configuration of the constructed space.
In this environment of contemporary art these talented architects have succeeded in expressing themselves conceptually, seeking inspiration, at times, in their nation's Mayan roots, at times through volumes with a symbolic value. In both cases, they have created a sublime architecture that leads us to undertake a silent reflection.