A N A R C H I T EC T W H O
Listens & Sees Damián Figueras ’99’s Global Journey Began in Cushing’s International Community
When the global financial crisis struck in 2008, Damián Figueras ’99 hit a wall that a lot of young architects were facing at the time: no work in London, nothing back home in Barcelona, and no clear path forward. But rather than retreat, he made a bold decision that would define his career. With just two suitcases and no prior experience in the country, he moved to Mexico City — a leap of faith that transformed him into an internationally recognized architect whose sustainable designs span from jungle communities in Panama to luxury hotels on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
“I had never stepped in that country before,” Figueras recalls of his move to Mexico. A Mexican student he’d met at graduate school in London had told him, “Come to Mexico because we’ve always been in crisis there, and there’s a lot to do anyway.” It was advice that would prove prophetic. Today, Figueras co-directs Septiembre Arquitectura, an architectural firm he founded with offices in both Mexico City and Barcelona. He and his colleagues are known for projects that integrate local materials, cultural context, and sustainable practices. His work ranges from designing entire indigenous
communities relocated from flooding areas in Panama to creating the Casa Amatller Digital Museum on Barcelona’s prestigious Passeig de Gràcia — literally next door to a building designed by the legendary architect Antoni Gaudí.
FINDING HIS FO U N DAT I O N AT C U S H I N G Figueras’ path to international architecture began with a family tradition. Going back many years, his relatives had spent their final two years of high school abroad, and he became the first in his family to choose Cushing Academy. “It’s been going on for generations,” he explains. “Everybody has been going to different schools, but Cushing was a great, great place.” About a third of the Cushing community back then were international students, Figueras recalls. He found himself studying alongside classmates from around the world — including the future King of Bhutan, whom he
INTERNATIONAL IMPACT: Figueras has his roots at Cushing (see inset photo). He now designs projects around the world.
SCAN ME! Learn more about Damián’s firm. 64
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