Esther Gallardo

Co-Founder

Diaz & Gallardo

Barcelona

Esther Gallardo and Alex Diaz , born in Barcelona, graduated in Technical Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), after which they opened their DF-Studio. The DF-Studio was a multidisciplinary studio of art, architecture and design, restaurant and bar development, urban sculpture, and housing.

Later, Alex Diaz got a degree in Architecture at the International University of Catalonia (UIC) and was responsible for Sustainable Construction at the UPC over four years. Similarly, Esther graduated with a Master’s in Project Management from the UPC and the Association of Technical Architects and Building Engineers.

After years of work at their DF-Studio and exhibiting their projects at the World Trade Center, Barcelona, Alex and Esther became developers of “special housing” platforms, “After Living” and “Homy”, which came prior to their company Díaz & Gallardo Unusual Real Estate. Now, they develope and sell and an average of 10-15 apartments per year.

Constant innovation, research and investigation of a “superior aesthetic level,” sustainability and humanism are the formal principles of their projects and marketing endeavors. Endorsements, exhibitions and awards for works such as the photovoltaic facade Schott at the CTAE Aerospace Technology Center, and the building of 60 apartments, Carrilet242, in l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, are two examples of these principles in action. For these projects, they received the Innovation Mention in Catalonia Construction Awards in 2009 by the Generalitat of Catalonia.

Articles featuring Esther Gallardo

Interviews

How two Architect Developers Became Their Own Clients – Díaz&Gallardo Unusual Real Estate

Do you want to get an inside look into the minds of the initiators and performers of the architectural community? If so, we heartily welcome you to “Archipreneur Insights”! In this interview series, we talk to the leaders and key players who have created outstanding work and projects within the fields of architecture, building and […]

Products featuring Esther Gallardo

Report #04

Architect and Developer:
A Case Study Handbook to Getting Started

In our Architect and Developer report you can read 10 interviews of practicing Architect and Developers who share their stories and how they got started with the first projects. Learn from their first-hand experiences and be inspired to start with your own project.

Read Report

Quotes from Esther Gallardo

"We see a future for the architect as becoming more hybrid, and as breaking away from the traditional ideas of the profession."
"We believe that this could be a great opportunity for architects in terms of social development. A lot of problems of cities and countries could be solved with urbanism."
"We see an architect who, in addition to designing buildings, is engaged in social and cultural problems, and not solely in problems to do with geometries and volumes."