RUBEN RUIZ
Senior Project Architect · Santiago
Education and work / 2000–Present
I studied architecture in Valencia, spent a year in Wrocław and have since worked across Europe, Asia and South America.
Choose a city to see what I was doing there and when.02 / Current region
02 / Current region
02 / Current region
02 / Current region
02 / Current region
02 / Current region
02 / Current region
Place 01 / 09
2000–2008 · 2009–2010
Valencia is where I studied architecture and started working. I co-designed the Observatori 2006 exhibition, then joined Enclave Arquitectura in 2009 to work on housing, renovations and street furniture.
View related project →Place 02 / 09
2006–2007
I spent the 2006–07 academic year in Wrocław on Erasmus, as part of my architecture degree in Valencia.
Place 03 / 09
2009.02–2009.08
At IBA, I worked on international architecture competitions, producing concept designs, 3D models, physical models and presentation material.
View related project →Place 04 / 09
2010.09–2010.12
At Frankham Consultancy Group, I prepared architectural drawings for refurbishment projects.
Place 05 / 09
2011.06–2014.12
I spent three and a half years working in Shanghai, first at W&R and then at HMD. The projects included housing, commercial buildings, hotels and masterplans. Over time, I took on more responsibility for façades, layouts and construction details.
View related project →Place 06 / 09
2015.03–2021.12
I began in Hong Kong as a freelance architect, working on shops, homes and hospitality spaces. In 2016 I joined KplusK Associates, where I later led architecture and interior projects in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia.
View related project →Place 07 / 09
2016.09–2016.12
For three months in Shenzhen, I designed modular buildings made from shipping containers and prepared the drawings for construction.
Place 08 / 09
2021.02–2024
I lived in Buenos Aires from 2021 to 2024, working independently on residential and commercial projects for international clients and remote teams.
Place 09 / 09
2021.02–Present
Santiago is now home. From here, I work independently on residential and commercial projects, taking them from the first ideas through to construction with clients and teams in different countries.
View related project →Project 01 / 03
22.32° N · 114.17° E
An aluminium ceiling matrix ties together a foyer and exhibition hall that were broken up by columns and level changes.
View project →Project 02 / 03
22.32° N · 114.17° E
Private staff facilities with a ballroom, stage, billiards, lounges and a separate recreation hall.
View project →Project 03 / 03
22.32° N · 114.17° E
A flexible temporary worship and community facility occupying one floor of an office building.
View project →Project 01 / 01
23.00° N · 120.23° E
A coastal masterplan with hotels, homes, public marinas, a market and space for tourism and technology businesses.
View project →Project 01 / 01
23.57° N · 119.58° E
The coastal resort includes a five-star hotel, villa suites, an event and activity centre, spa facilities and beachfront amenities.
View project →Project 01 / 01
28.12° N · 15.44° W
A complete renovation of an ageing penthouse into two apartments designed for short-term stays.
View project →Project 01 / 01
8.41° S · 115.19° E
A wedding venue on a cliff in Bali, with gardens, reception areas and ceremony spaces leading towards the ocean.
View project →Project 01 / 02
30.57° N · 104.07° E
A 43-hectare development with office and residential towers, a shopping centre, retail streets, bridges and public squares.
View project →Project 02 / 02
30.57° N · 104.07° E
A competition proposal for two towers and a shopping podium, with a viewing deck, bar and pool at the top of the main tower.
View project →Project 01 / 01
36.07° N · 120.38° E
A curtain-wall design based on the colour, depth and texture of jade.
View project →Project 01 / 01
38.49° N · 106.23° E
A competition proposal for gardens and exhibition routes built around water and a dragon-shaped entrance pavilion.
View project →Project 01 / 04
39.47° N · 0.38° W
A narrow shoe shop with a geometric display in the centre and storage built into the walls.
View project →Project 02 / 04
39.47° N · 0.38° W
An exhibition environment for an international art and research festival at the City of Arts and Sciences.
View project →Project 03 / 04
39.47° N · 0.38° W
Bedrooms, shared rooms, classrooms, workshops and exhibition spaces surround a public square that continues into the building.
View project →Project 04 / 04
39.47° N · 0.38° W
The compact building contains music teaching rooms, an auditorium, a library, exhibition rooms, a restaurant and underground parking.
View project →Project 01 / 01
45.80° N · 126.54° E
The development has a curved shopping centre, residential towers and public space.
View project →Project 01 / 01
17.98° N · 102.63° E
Homes and shops are arranged around open green space, roof gardens and landscaped public areas.
View project →Project 01 / 01
22.54° N · 114.06° E
A competition proposal for a 125-metre information and observation tower formed by the intersection of simple planar elements.
View project →Project 01 / 03
31.23° N · 121.47° E
The proposal covers two plots with housing, offices, commercial streets and retail space, all within a 17-storey height limit.
View project →Project 02 / 03
31.23° N · 121.47° E
The timber pavilion presents a sample home and can later become a shared space for residents.
View project →Project 03 / 03
31.23° N · 121.47° E
A competition proposal for elevated walking and cycling routes above Shanghai’s traffic, with planting and places to stop along the way.
View project →Project 01 / 01
36.65° N · 117.12° E
The business district includes office towers, serviced apartments, hotels, a commercial street and a retail podium.
View project →Project 01 / 01
29.56° N · 106.55° E
The hilltop hotel and clubhouse curve with the landscape to open views over the golf course and shelter the viewing terraces.
View project →Project 01 / 01
35.78° S · 137.21° E
The plan places a hotel, villas and public amenities along the coast while keeping existing trees, the hill profile and open sea views.
View project →Study and work: Santiago
Chronology / 2000–Present
From architecture school in Valencia to my current work in Santiago.
2000–2008 · 2009–2010
Universidad Politécnica de Valencia · Observatori 2006 · Enclave Arquitectura
Valencia is where I studied architecture and started working. I co-designed the Observatori 2006 exhibition, then joined Enclave Arquitectura in 2009 to work on housing, renovations and street furniture.
2006–2007
Wrocław University of Science and Technology
I spent the 2006–07 academic year in Wrocław on Erasmus, as part of my architecture degree in Valencia.
2009.02–2009.08
Information Based Architecture (IBA) · Architect
At IBA, I worked on international architecture competitions, producing concept designs, 3D models, physical models and presentation material.
2010.09–2010.12
Frankham Consultancy Group · Architect
At Frankham Consultancy Group, I prepared architectural drawings for refurbishment projects.
2011.06–2014.12
W&R International Design Group · HMD Architecture Design
I spent three and a half years working in Shanghai, first at W&R and then at HMD. The projects included housing, commercial buildings, hotels and masterplans. Over time, I took on more responsibility for façades, layouts and construction details.
2015.03–2021.12
Freelance work · KplusK Associates
I began in Hong Kong as a freelance architect, working on shops, homes and hospitality spaces. In 2016 I joined KplusK Associates, where I later led architecture and interior projects in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia.
2016.09–2016.12
Container Box Creative Design Engineering Ltd · Design Architect
For three months in Shenzhen, I designed modular buildings made from shipping containers and prepared the drawings for construction.
2021.02–2024
Freelance architecture · Buenos Aires
I lived in Buenos Aires from 2021 to 2024, working independently on residential and commercial projects for international clients and remote teams.
2021.02–Present
Current base · Freelance architect
Santiago is now home. From here, I work independently on residential and commercial projects, taking them from the first ideas through to construction with clients and teams in different countries.
Project map
Places where I’ve worked on architecture, interiors and masterplans across Asia, Europe and Australia.
01
Hong Kong
3 projects
Project 01.1
An aluminium ceiling matrix ties together a foyer and exhibition hall that were broken up by columns and level changes.
Project 01.2
Private staff facilities with a ballroom, stage, billiards, lounges and a separate recreation hall.
Project 01.3
A flexible temporary worship and community facility occupying one floor of an office building.
02
Taiwan
1 project
Project 02.1
A coastal masterplan with hotels, homes, public marinas, a market and space for tourism and technology businesses.
03
Taiwan
1 project
Project 03.1
The coastal resort includes a five-star hotel, villa suites, an event and activity centre, spa facilities and beachfront amenities.
04
Spain
1 project
Project 04.1
A complete renovation of an ageing penthouse into two apartments designed for short-term stays.
05
Indonesia
1 project
Project 05.1
A wedding venue on a cliff in Bali, with gardens, reception areas and ceremony spaces leading towards the ocean.
06
China
2 projects
Project 06.1
A 43-hectare development with office and residential towers, a shopping centre, retail streets, bridges and public squares.
Project 06.2
A competition proposal for two towers and a shopping podium, with a viewing deck, bar and pool at the top of the main tower.
07
China
1 project
Project 07.1
A curtain-wall design based on the colour, depth and texture of jade.
08
China
1 project
Project 08.1
A competition proposal for gardens and exhibition routes built around water and a dragon-shaped entrance pavilion.
09
Spain
4 projects
Project 09.1
A narrow shoe shop with a geometric display in the centre and storage built into the walls.
Project 09.2
An exhibition environment for an international art and research festival at the City of Arts and Sciences.
Project 09.3
Bedrooms, shared rooms, classrooms, workshops and exhibition spaces surround a public square that continues into the building.
Project 09.4
The compact building contains music teaching rooms, an auditorium, a library, exhibition rooms, a restaurant and underground parking.
10
China
1 project
Project 10.1
The development has a curved shopping centre, residential towers and public space.
11
Laos
1 project
Project 11.1
Homes and shops are arranged around open green space, roof gardens and landscaped public areas.
12
China
1 project
Project 12.1
A competition proposal for a 125-metre information and observation tower formed by the intersection of simple planar elements.
13
China
3 projects
Project 13.1
The proposal covers two plots with housing, offices, commercial streets and retail space, all within a 17-storey height limit.
Project 13.2
The timber pavilion presents a sample home and can later become a shared space for residents.
Project 13.3
A competition proposal for elevated walking and cycling routes above Shanghai’s traffic, with planting and places to stop along the way.
14
China
1 project
Project 14.1
The business district includes office towers, serviced apartments, hotels, a commercial street and a retail podium.
15
China
1 project
Project 15.1
The hilltop hotel and clubhouse curve with the landscape to open views over the golf course and shelter the viewing terraces.
16
Australia
1 project
Project 16.1
The plan places a hotel, villas and public amenities along the coast while keeping existing trees, the hill profile and open sea views.
Hong Kong
Taiwan
Spain
Indonesia
China
Laos
Australia
