A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, Juancarlos was influenced from an early age by his father, a mechanical engineer, and later by legendary modernist architect Luis Barragan, whose work is credited with bringing joy, vibrancy and a Mexican sensuality to the International Style.
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Friday, April 30th | 4:00pm PST
Join us LIVE as we sit down with Lead Architect on the CADE and Odette Estate Projects, Juancarlos Fernandez, Managing Partner, John Conover, and Winemaker Danielle Cyrot.
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Sip along side us while you tune in to our next LIVE event with Juancarlos Fernandez, Danielle Cyrot and John Conover on April 30th! Shop the latest releases of CADE Estate!
Where it all began:
Juancarlos received his professional degree in architecture from the ITESO Jesuit University of Guadalajara, where he studied under Ignacio Diaz Morales - founder of the Tapatia school of architecture and an associate of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Luis Barragon - a connection he describes as an inspiration. Like his mentors, Juancarlos aspires to capture the spirit of people and place, through strategically-crafted, multi-sensual experiences that unfold in surprising ways.
After graduating and receiving his licensure in Mexico, Juancarlos practiced architecture in Guadalajara, bringing a fresh perspective to his work on affordable housing projects, which he credits with giving him a foundation in thinking creatively regardless of budget. He left Mexico to broaden his experience, and his architectural vocabulary. He travelled the world, practicing architecture in Canada (designing housing destined for Japan), and then in New York, before making the fateful decision to move to the San Francisco Bay Area. Through his travels, Juancarlos was able to directly experience architecture as tangible expression of a country’s distinctive way of life, as well as a means by which he could impact and improve the lives of those around him.
“One of my favorite things about practicing architecture is its direct connection to the land and to the materials of construction, and the impact of what we do on how people live their lives.”
Big Things on the Horizon:
Before forming his own firm with Jarrod, Juancarlos worked with several of the wine country’s leading designers, laying the groundwork for a practice steeped in the relationships and community of the California wine country. Genuine and charismatic, he has built his practice on trust and collaboration, inspiring both his team and his clients to engage in creative thinking and ever-better design solutions.
Juancarlos cites the interplay between architecture and the land as one of his primary motivations for pursuing a career in architecture. A passionate advocate for organically sustainable design and building practices, he has built a well-deserved reputation for cutting edge design solutions at all scales and budget levels. Inspired by challenge, he constantly strives to push the envelope of design.
An avid outdoorsman, cycler, former surfer and tennis contender, his joy is design and his family.