Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 179

Mateo had originally planned to stay in Korea for only about three days.

He thought one day would be enough to meet the young Korean architect Bruno had mentioned.

His plan was simple: meet Bruno on the first day, see the Korean architect on the second, and fly back to Spain on the third.

But Mateo’s plan changed completely.

The Korean architect, Woo-jin, was much more helpful to his design than he had imagined.

So, Mateo decided to do the initial design work in Korea.

It wasn’t an easy decision, since all his important tools and offices were in Spain.

But Mateo, who canceled his plane ticket the day he met Woo-jin, immediately called Spain.

“Get the design team members who were working on the stadium project and have them fly to Korea within three days,” he said.

“Sir! What are you talking about all of a sudden?” someone asked.

“I’ve found the answer in Korea,” Mateo replied.

“Yes?”

“I’ll explain when I see you. Just send about eight people to Korea.”

From plane tickets to employee lodging and food, the business trip expenses would cost a lot of money. Yet, he made these decisions without hesitation.

Of course, Mateo didn’t decide this alone. He talked to Woo-jin first.

Woo-jin had offered to help with the overall design.

Mateo made his decision after hearing this offer.

“This is a really interesting project, Mateo,” Woo-jin said.

“Is that so?” Mateo asked.

“Being able to design a special outside wall for such a big building is a very rare chance for architects,” Woo-jin explained.

“Haha,” Mateo chuckled.

“And not many clients want such unusual designs, right?”

“I have to admit, I used to secretly hate clients who wanted crazy buildings!” Mateo said, a little embarrassed.

The reason Woo-jin offered to help with the design was clear. He was very interested in digital architecture, and this project was a great opportunity for him.

“I haven’t designed a building this big before, but I think I can definitely help you with the design using digital methods,” Woo-jin said.

“I think so too, Woo-jin. I’m very grateful that you’re willing to help someone from another country like me,” Mateo replied.

“Haha, don’t worry about it. I think it will be a good experience for me too.”

Of course, Woo-jin wasn’t going to create the blueprints and do the entire design himself.

Woo-jin didn’t have enough time, and it might seem disrespectful to Mateo, the project leader.

Instead, Woo-jin would offer solutions to help Mateo’s designs become real.

This alone would be a lot of work.

But even if his name was just listed as a supporter of Mateo’s world-class project, it would greatly improve the reputation of WJ Studio.

However, Mateo had different ideas.

“Woo-jin, thank you so much. I’ll list WJ Studio and your name as co-designers,” Mateo said.

“Ah, you don’t have to do that. You can just list me as a supporter…,”

“No. I wouldn’t have gotten this kind of help anywhere else if it weren’t for you.”

“If you think so…,”

“I’ll definitely share the design fee with you. I’ll show you the contract as soon as my staff arrives in Korea.”

Mateo didn’t want to make a big profit from this project.

He had already become famous with many architectural designs and didn’t need more money.

What he wanted most was a great project to add to his portfolio, which would help his career as a designer.

This project might have failed if it hadn’t been for Woo-jin.

The moment he saw Woo-jin’s work and heard about digital architecture, he believed he could save the project and make it even better.

Mateo didn’t mind giving Woo-jin a significant role in the project.

“I guess I have to work harder,” Woo-jin said.

“Haha, I didn’t mean to put pressure on you,” Mateo replied.

“I know. But now that I’m involved, I have to earn my keep.”

And so, Mateo and Woo-jin’s collaboration began very suddenly.

Woo-jin was not only listed as a co-designer but also learned that he would receive a portion of the design fee.

Woo-jin planned to use some of WJ Studio’s resources during the collaboration.

Of course, those ‘resources’ included Seok-hyun.

“Seok-gu, you’ll help me, right?” Woo-jin asked.

“I’m doing it during work hours anyway. Of course…,”

“No, it won’t just be work hours.”

“Holy…,”

“About two weeks…? We might have to sleep in the office.”

“Damn it!”

At first, Seok-hyun looked sad at the thought of working overtime.

“But I’ll ask Mateo to put your name on the stadium’s list of supporters,” Woo-jin added.

“What? Really?” Seok-hyun asked.

“It’ll be hard to get your name on the list of designers, but I’ll put it at the top of the list of supporters.”

“My name will be on the list of designers for the new San Mames Stadium…?”

“That’s right. And I’ll give you a nice bonus.”

“…!”

In the end, Seok-hyun couldn’t refuse the attractive rewards that Woo-jin offered.

“And when this project is done… I’ll buy a new company car and give you the keys. Deal?” Woo-jin proposed.

“Crazy! Is that real?”

“Of course.”

“If you talk about fuel efficiency again this time…,”

“That won’t happen. You can choose the car model, as long as it’s not too expensive.”

“Damn it, I have to record this.”

“You know I keep my promises.”

Woojin leaned forward, a wide grin on his face. “Director,” he said, his voice full of playful exaggeration, “I swear, I think I’m in love with you!”

Mateo chuckled, but his eyes were serious. “So, does that mean you’ll help us with the San Mames design?”

Woojin straightened up, all joking aside. “I mean it. And yes,” he said firmly, “I won’t say it twice. I’m in.”

Mateo smiled, relief washing over his face. “Okay, deal then!”

“Deal!” Woojin echoed, shaking Mateo’s hand with enthusiasm.

Because they were both very motivated, the San Mames Stadium design project produced an even more magnificent result than Woojin had imagined.

* * *

The new name of the San Mames Stadium, with Mateo and Woojin’s names attached. It was a Spanish phrase meaning ‘Fierce Waves’ in Korean.

“I tried to express the passion of the people of Bilbao for football by comparing it to ‘fiercely crashing waves.'” Mateo explained.

“Haha, very impressive, Mateo. As you said, the design seems to express the passion for sports very well,” Bruno said.

“It’s all thanks to Woojin,” Mateo replied.

“No, all I did was provide solutions for fabrication. Mateo directed the overall design, didn’t he?” Woojin said.

“Thank you for saying that, but… it’s true that this design wouldn’t have been possible without Woojin,” Mateo said.

Woojin and Mateo, having spread out the completed stadium blueprints, praised each other, their faces full of pride. Their praise was honest and true.

Mateo was impressed by Woojin’s passionate and outstanding abilities. Woojin learned a great deal while experiencing Mateo’s design directing method and design process.

‘Certainly, his reputation isn’t fake. To express this level of sculptural beauty and spatial sense in such a massive architectural project… it’s not usually an easy task,’ Woojin thought.

So, the two felt sad about parting ways, even though the project was finished.

Over fifteen days, they realized that there were still many things they could learn from each other.

Thus, on Mateo’s last day in Seoul, Woojin, having been invited to Mateo’s accommodation in Yongsan, had dinner with the two Spanish architects. Fortunately, Mateo’s interpreter was also staying at the hotel, so there were no communication difficulties.

“Did you get a response from Spain?” Woojin asked.

“A response, you say…” Mateo trailed off.

“I was wondering if Chairman Pablo liked the design. Haha,” Woojin said.

At Woojin’s question, Mateo smiled and replied, “Of course. He was satisfied with the initial design I presented. Thanks to Woojin’s help, we were able to create an even more magnificent result, so there’s no way Chairman Pablo wouldn’t like it.”

“That’s a relief,” Woojin said with an awkward smile.

Bruno chimed in this time. He, too, had already seen the completed design and perspective drawings through Mateo.

“Woojin, no client in their right mind would say no to this design!” Bruno exclaimed. “If I had known that digital architecture techniques were such a wonderful field, I probably would have proposed a joint design with Woojin for this project as well. Haha.”

The three, who had been talking at Mateo’s accommodation, moved to the lounge of the Glacial Tower, a hotel designed by Bruno, and continued their conversation late into the night.

As the conversation was coming to an end, Woojin received a proposal from the two architects.

“Woojin, are you perhaps aware of the EAC conference that was scheduled for August this year?” Mateo asked.

“EAC… are you referring to the European Architecture Design Conference?” Woojin asked.

“Oh, you know about it,” Mateo said.

“Isn’t it a world-renowned architecture design conference? Of course, I know about it,” Woojin said. His eyes sparkled at the mention of EAC.

Woojin was smart and began to understand what they were hinting at.

‘Was it about next year’s conference, then?’ Woojin wondered.

But the moment he heard the next part of the story, Woojin’s eyes couldn’t help but widen slightly. An unexpected story came from Bruno’s mouth.

“Then, are you perhaps also aware that this year’s conference has been postponed?” Bruno asked.

“Pardon?” Woojin asked.

This time, Mateo spoke. “This year’s EAC was originally scheduled to be held in England in August. However, due to major protests in London, it has been postponed to November.”

“Such a thing…” Woojin muttered.

As the two architects continued to speak, Woojin’s heart rate gradually increased.

“If Woojin has the time, we were hoping you could join us at this conference,” Mateo said.

As Mateo finished speaking, Bruno continued, “It’s not just a simple invitation as a guest, Woojin. We would like you to join us at this conference as a collaborator on my project and Mateo’s project.”

The moment Bruno finished speaking, Woojin clenched his fists without realizing it.

If he could join the two at this year’s conference, there would be no more special experience than that. Participating in the conference as a collaborator of two masters, and as a full-fledged architect, was a different meaning than simply being invited.

“Thank you, Bruno, and Mateo. If you two invite me, I should definitely go, even if I have a busy schedule. No, I will definitely go,” Woojin said with an excited voice.

At Woojin’s excited voice, the two burst into laughter at the same time. They seemed to have discovered a human side to this young designer, who had always surprised them.

Mateo, glancing at Bruno, winked. The two still had one more story to tell Woojin.

Mateo’s lips slowly parted.

“And Woojin, there is one more thing I would like to ask of you…” Mateo said.

Woojin, who had barely calmed down his excitement, took a deep breath and replied.

“Tell me, Mateo,” Woojin said.

Mateo, gazing at him with a smiling face for a moment, opened his mouth again in a subtle voice.

“Perhaps, could you give a presentation for about a slot for you to speak at the conference?” Mateo asked.

“Pardon…?” Woojin asked.

Woojin was momentarily speechless at the story that was so much more unconventional than anything before.

Mateo, smiling at him, paused for a moment before continuing.

“I would like you to share the possibilities of digital architecture and the beauty of parametric design with the architects of Europe,” Mateo said.

Golden Print