50|PROTAGONISTA Restaurante Azulete, proyectado por Oscar Tusquets. / Azulete Restaurant, projected by Oscar Tusquets. Rafael Moneo showed us his museum in Mérida, we asked him who had he chosen to design the artificial lighting and he answered that he had not thought about hiring anybody. This has changed so the question is a resounding yes. Consciousness about the importance of good artificial illumination will increase with time, and so will more professionals specialized on this topic. Without their help, we will not be able to design. Some of your projects on public facilities are characterized by ceilings with openings that allow light into the interior space creating subtle plays of light and shadows. What is the best way to combine artificial lighting with natural lighting in an architectural large scale project? The first rule is: do not try to imitate natural light with artificial light. For example, in an office not everybody can work with natural light, so you have to play with both lights. It is a delicate and complex topic. I always have arguments with the technicians. The fluorescents close to the windows do not need to be turned on all the time. Illuminating the work places that do not get natural light is enough. These subtleties translate into less use of electricity so the electric companies are not too eager to promote them. Sometimes I wonder if the rules of lighting were not imposed by them. For example, in an office there must be a specific number of luces per square meter. Presently, 90% of people work with a computer and it is an inconvenience to have too much light over the computer screen. I use only one luminary that focuses on the keyboard and the papers on my table and it’s all I need to work before the screen. Therefore, this rule is totally absurd. Shouldn’t the rules respond to proven functional needs that have been technically studied and proven? That is not always the case. For example, another rule I learned from Arnaud is that in a public space, if you are going towards a well- lit background, there is no need to light up the whole walk way. If there is an obstacle or some danger you will see it in the backlight. All those subtleties are omitted by the regulations. Be it pertaining to aesthetic or to light, laws always simplify and are, therefore, incorrect. For example the norm that states that you cannot build closer than 15 meters from the sea. In ground it makes sense, but what about in elevation? On vertical? On a rock? Why can’t I build? All these laws were made before there was an energy savings consciousness. Forcing an office to be constantly illuminated by a determined huge amount of luces comes from a time when we