#AirMomentUPV. Some say it's the journey and not the destination what matters the most. Well, when it comes to architecture and design of anything I would absolutely say that! Last Saturday we had the chance to have the girls from Conjuntos Empáticos (which is an investigation group about architecture, art and pedagogy which gathers up some cool people mostly from Madrid) as guests at Valencia Architecture School to teach us about inflatable and pneumatic architecture, which we could make ourselves with their priceless help.

We spent the whole day at the School, a group of nearly 30 Architecture students working non-stop patterning in huge plastic rolls, cutting edges, "sewing" pieces with our flat irons and basically, invading the whole School's hall to build a huge inflatable, plastic "mushroom" in which we can get inside!

It feels amazing to see the process, from the first excitement and don't-know-exactly-what-I'm-doing moments to the peak of the day when you see it all black and you're sure you won't achieve the goal, to the final countdown in which you realize you're part of the the team, everyone's working super hard to get the work done and you'll achieve it. It makes me remember last year's ETSA·TOPIA festival, which was all about team-work with people you might not even know at all, but whom you end bonding and sharing those crazy, race-against-time moments. I find these kind of experiences super important for anyone in any professional field: it develops teamwork, empathy, social and crisis-solving skills which are essential in any job, but specially in architecture. You are supposed to be against this kind of experiences every single day in your future, so better be prepared!

So, that's the main reason why I'm bringing you these pictures today: mostly to see the process behind that very cool thing we built. Those are the pictures which hide our conversations while "sewing" plastic, our desperation moments because we couldn't find any sense to the patterns and seams (but we figured it all by the end of the afternoon) and the final result. At the end, fashion is a series of processes and creative solutions to some needs and problems which are supposed to be solved, too. And which are supposed to be of good use: in this case, we will use the #AirMomentUPV pavilion to meet and have a cozy place to relax between classes and seminaries at the Architecture School. How cool is that?

Haven't you ever felt like you'd need a 72-hours day to accomplish everything you should be doing in just one regular, working day? That's me, currently. I must say that I've been like this since I started University, but in the last two years I just feel like I can't handle everything I'm up to. First, I was just looking for the feeling of belonging to something. Helping others. Joining and participating in exciting projects, activities and groups. And still manage to practise fencing, go out, keep up with the blog and of course, accomplish all the due dates with projects and homework. Impossible.

I feel like I've just got to the point when I'm absolutely overwhelmed and I'm not able just to accomplish everything I'm supposed to do, but not even half of the tasks I've planned for the day. My mind has just said "STOP IT", and my body is about to, soon. I still try to manage everything, and be consequent to the decisions I made in the past, to accomplish some promises I made to friends and work groups, but I'm just trying to take it as easy as I can or I'll turn nuts.

If you've been reading and knowing me for some time, you must know I'm a travel lover. Since I started studying Architecture I knew I didn't want to go outside Spain to finish the degree, but now things have changed a little, and the need of fresh air and taking a much needed time for myself has led me to the decision of leaving for an Erasmus scholarship next year. That adds a little bit of stress about the overwhelming routine I'm currently living in, as I enrolled an intensive course to get an advanced English degree by the start of December. If everything goes as planned, I'll be asking for a place at TU Delft, Netherlands (no need of Dutch by the moment, but I find very interesting to learn it too... Maybe if I get accepted there!) so I can finish my 5th year there and breathe some fresh air. Meet new people. Keep up with fencing, which I had to leave behind because of time lack. Learn new ways to approach architecture, design and fashion.

Although I'm already exhausted because of the times and routines I'm currently taking (and it's hardly mid October!), I'm super excited of having something to fight for and focus on this new course, as I feel like it was a very long time ago the last time I had the will of doing something as huge as this. Everyone who has taken an Erasmus always end up telling me how great and life changing the experience was, and I want to feel that as well.

OPEN HOUSE 2016 was all about learning and care to detail. I find incredible how my perception about architecture and detail has changed and evolved since the very first time I took part in a trip with my architect mates at the School. I can't believe already five years have passed since that first trip to Ticino and Milan area!

The more years I spent watching, learning and receiving classes about structures, design theory and history, the more I'm able to pay that attention to detail and be aware of everything surrounding me, specially when I go on a trip to places I've never been before. Besides, visiting buildings and places with a group of architect friends forces you to discuss, to watch carefully and see everything.
On this trip to the capital I had the chance to take it easily, making super punctual scapes out of the group to the Old Book Fair placed at Paseo de Recoletos; or to enjoy a tour visit to the Royal Tapestry Factory, which was amazing. This was a visit to Madrid in which I had so much time for myself, to stroll around the city and really feel the independence I'm looking for on a near future. There's so much to think about once you cross the subway entry and start walking downstairs to take the train which will lead you to the outside neighbourhoods of the city, to look up an specific building you've wanted to visit for a long time.

Open House festival in Madrid also let me plot and start the thinking process on some new ideas and coming posts for the blog, as well as discovering new guest for the "Behind the design" series which I'll be sending emails to and getting in touch as soon as possible. It's all about learning!

Madrid is such an exciting city! There are lots of interesting and amazing things happening there every day, every week. There's so much to do, so many miles to stroll around and still so many places I've got on my agenda to see, that every time I go on a trip there, I'm seeing a completely different city.

Last week during Madrid's Architecture Week there was held OPEN HOUSE 2016 at the city, which is a festival where some rare buildings are open to regular public for them to visit on a tour, and some architecture studios at the capital are able to be visited too. So, I got the amazing chance to meet some of my favorite architects and teams in Madrid, as they showed students how they work and what they're up to lately. It was such an experience I shared with 11 people whom I know a little (some very close friends, others close friends of my close friends living in other Spain places and coming from very far) but these days I spent in Madrid provided me the opportunity to open up to new people, to learn A LOT, visit new places I had no idea they existed... Sometimes these are the kind of experiences which really make you to stop for a little bit, take some (needed) fresh air and see things from a very new perspective. 

I arrived home exhausted but at the same time so energized! Spending time on a city which is not your hometown although you've been there uncountable times make you feel more aware of your surroundings, stepping out of your comfort zone and taking decisions on a very short period of time. Perks of travelling with a huge group of people and realizing you also need your own space of time for yourself to enjoy the city, to stroll around with no particular destination and let yourself drift to discover.

Did you know about OPEN HOUSE Festival? What's your favorite part of being lost in a city you already know as the back of your hand?

As a sporty girl, I've been always obsessed by colorful sport shoes and sneakers. I started collecting them when I was on my late teenagehood, and I still keep some pairs that still fit and didn't end very damaged by life.

There's been around lately a trend I really did despise, but which has caught my heart little by little; although you know I'm not a big any-fashion-trend fan, and that is wearing trainers and training shoes with skirts or dresses. I just love it!

I'm obsessed with the match of skater dresses or A-line dresses with colorful, patterned sneakers. If paired well, you can achieve a super feminine and comfortable look, yet different and stylish. Fashion bloggers as Gary Pepper and Tsangtastic among others you can spot on these collages I made know how to rock their sneakers + dress outfits so well! I think the key of mastering this kind of outfits achieving balance: talking about different volumes, accessories and dress/skirt shapes. Here are some useful tips I've discovered while experimenting myself with this trend:

• Plain, non-patterned sneakers go perfect with bodycon dresses and pencil skirts. They also look great with stripes and geometrical patterns.

• Converse and All-Star sneakers look good with loose dresses and flowy skirts. Pleats and vibrant colors match this shoes to achieve a very fun, fresh outfit.

• Patterned and colorful sneakers could be paired with skater dresses and simpler accessories. They key is to focus all glances to your feet, so it may be best to pair your sporty shoes with plain, non-patterned dresses or add too many colors to your outfit.

• Statement sneakers. As the type we saw at Chanel & Dior Haute Couture catwalk images above. They usually have this kind of thick sole and have almost the same structure used at real running and fitness sneakers. Although I'm a little bit hesitant about them to be used on this way, I must say they look nice with formal, long and event dresses. Not really into it, and I'm not sure if I would go that far with the trend but I like seeing these shoes worn at catwalks with high fashion and Haute Couture proposals.

Image via: Tsangtastic