Born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Fernando Menis studied architecture and urban planning at the ETSA in Barcelona. In 1981, together with Felipe Artengo Rufino and José María Rodríguez Pastrana Malagón, he founded an office under the name Artengo, Menis, Pastrana, which changed its name to AMP ARQUITECTOS in 1992. In 2004 and 2005, Fernando Menis began winning awards for various competitions with his new, independent practice MENIS ARQUITECTOS, amongst others for the Cuchillitos de Tristan Park, for 55 social housing units in La Laguna (both on Tenerife) and for the rehabilitation of Agulo and Vallehermoso’s historical town centre on the island of La Gomera. His portfolio further encompasses a.o. the MM/MM house in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1998), the district president’s offices (1999), eleven bungalows in El Guincho on Tenerife (2002), the sports stadium in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (2002) and the swimming pool on the Spree in Berlin (2004).
The up-and-coming architect displays his abilities not only in large and smaller-scale constructions, he is also intensely involved in urban planning, e.g. the competition he won in 2004 for "Litoral/Seaboard Puerto de la Cruz". The planned interventions enable the extension and revitalisation of an important part of Puerto de la Cruz’ harbour. Fernando Menis’ projects on La Gomera are realised on a smaller scale, and based on the foundations of eco-tourism: on Agulo, a series of historic houses are being renovated, added to and transformed into small hotels, thus creating a neighbourhood which forges new links between inhabitants and visitors.
His unique formal vocabulary is sculptural and powerful, yet committed to international modernism. Through their materiality, his buildings fit in organically with the Canary Islands’ topography, thus turning into distinctive signs. This approach can be found in many details of his work. The recognisable dialogue with the landscape and materiality of those islands of volcanic origin makes his work stand out pleasantly from the short-lived architecture of our time, as well as setting the built form back into relation with its environment rather than merely the building’s owner.
In late 2005, the MAGMA Arts and Convention Centre opened on Tenerife: Fernando Menis succeeded in creating a grandiose building which can hold its own against any of the recent large-scale structures worldwide in terms of quality, design and function. Wherever possible, he used local building materials. The rough stone evokes natural rock formations as well as an almost archaic indestructibility. Shortly after completion, the heavy concrete body’s unusual shape has become a striking landmark of the Southern part of the island, while fitting in the landscape’s volcanic topography as a matter of course. For this project, Fernando Menis did not only shoulder the role of the architect, but is also highly involved in its successful implementation. Indeed, the building’s finality should not lie in "l’architecture pour l’architecture": Fernando Menis wants MAGMA to fully exhaust its potential as a local institution which is accepted and used by locals rather than a mere tourist attraction. A further project whose final result is eagerly awaited is the Santísimo Redentor Church in La Laguna, Tenerife. Once again, it takes up elements of its surroundings, and the play with natural light and ventilation will take on a central role.
Fernando Menis is teaching, gives workshops and lecture at universities and institutions a.o. in Vienna, Graz, Havanna, Berlin, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Valencia, Leon, Castellon, Santiago de Compostela, Benicassim, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santander, Adeje. His work has been exhibited a.o. at the Aedes Gallery Berlin (2006), at the TU Stuttgart (2006), at Met Room Barcelona (2006) and was part of group exhibitions in Tenerife, Stuttgart, London, Alicante, Berlin, Las Palmas, New Delhi, Shanghai, Hamburg, New York (MoMa), CCCBarcelona, Biennale di Venecia (2006). Menis Arquitectos MAGMA Arte & Congresos
Valid as of 27.5.2008
