José Bonifacino was in Sweden when he witnessed something he had never seen before and that left him in awe: the Northern Lights. The discovery of this natural phenomenon could not be overlooked, and José, an architecture graduate, decided to incorporate it, in his own unique style, into a project that he later submitted to the Burn Your Portfolio competition, organized by the Barcelona University School, where he wonthird prize. We interviewed him so he could tell us a little more about his work and his experience traveling through Europe.
-Tell us a little about the contest—what it’s about and why it’s important.
The "Burn Your Portfolio: Fahrenheit Scholarship" contest is open to people of all ages, nationalities, and backgrounds. This year marked the contest's fourth edition, and I was fortunate enough to be named a finalist.
The contest, organized by the Barcelona School of Design and Engineering (Elisava), offered a scholarship to study for free in either the Master’s in Design and Art Direction or the Master’s in Advertising Design and Communication.
The contest involved freely designing a physical space measuring 2.97 by 2.10 meters, where we could express an idea or concept in any way we chose. Afterward, we had to create a one-minute video showcasing the project, which would then be evaluated by a jury.
-What is the project you submitted to the contest?
I am currently traveling through Scandinavia, and the idea I came up with for the contest is closely tied to this experience.
Although this is a leisure trip, I try not to neglect my studies or my aspirations as a recent architecture graduate, so entering a contest that would allow me to continue traveling around Europe while also continuing my studies to further my career seemed like a good idea.
When I decided to enter the contest, I was in Kiruna, a mining town in northern Sweden, and around that time I was lucky enough to witness one of the most spectacular sights nature has to offer: the Northern Lights. I was so amazed by what I had experienced that I knew I had to find a way to include it in my contest entry.
Without going into too much detail, I began to think that the contest rules limited me physically in both length and width but didn’t specify anything regarding height, so, somewhat ironically, I asked myself: Why not infinite height? That’s where the title of the piece came from: *Infinite Light*, an idea that combines the concept of infinity with the idea of light, drawn from my experience with the auroras.
Although I don't know much about video editing and didn't have much time before the deadline, I managed to put together a simple video using the architecture software I usually work with.
In the competition, I was a finalist alongside a Mexican and a Spaniard. It was undoubtedly a great experience that encourages me to continue participating in this type of competition and creative exploration.
-You're finishing up your portfolio. How far along are you with that? Has traveling around Europe given you new perspectives that will help you finish it?
While having a portfolio isn't essential in Uruguay, here in Europe it's a basic requirement that all studios ask for. It's also a good way to look back on your academic and professional work so far and helps you figure out which field you'd most like to work in.
I'm almost ready to go now, and my plan is to visit cities like Copenhagen, Stockholm, or Oslo and try my luck there. During my college years, I was always fascinated by the Nordic countries' approach to architecture and how they interpret it, so coming here was something I'd always wanted to do.
In particular, I’ve always admired the working style of large Scandinavian firms like BIG (Denmark) and Snohetta (Norway), as well as smaller studios such as Reiulf Ramstad Architects (Norway) and Tham & Videgard Arkitekter (Sweden). I hope to be able to work and study for a while with a firm here so that I can return to Uruguay with more experience and apply some of this way of thinking about and viewing architecture, which I think is great.
-You're currently in Norway. What are you doing there?
Right now I'm on a group of islands called the Lofoten Islands, located in northern Norway. The original plan was to stay for three days, but I’m already in my third week. I just can’t bring myself to leave—it’s spectacular. There are different villages, mostly fishing villages, nestled among mountains that drop straight down to the mar. For someone from Uruguay like me, who isn’t used to seeing this kind of landscape—with fjords, mountains, waterfalls, and crystal-clear lakes—it’s truly breathtaking.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had a few interviews in Svolvaer and Narvik to work as an architect with local and government firms, but not knowing Norwegian has been a barrier in towns as small as these. Still, it’s been really nice to meet professionals who are willing to take some time out of their day to show me their work and give me advice on my portfolio.
-Do you think it’s important for architecture students to travel the world, and especially Europe? In what way?
The more I travel, the more I realize how valuable it is for an architect to see in person certain types of architecture that we in Latin America aren’t used to or simply can’t imagine. I’m not just talking about visiting monuments and the typical buildings we see on postcards; I’m referring to seeing and experiencing the everyday architecture that people live in and enjoy as part of their daily lives. Solutions to everyday challenges, details, and alternative building systems are some of the things I most enjoy seeing and photographing when I arrive in a new place.
Over the past few months of traveling, I came across the concept of “slow travel,” something I’d never heard of before. Instead of hopping from city to city or country to country in just a few days on a tight schedule (where you always end up missing something because you’re rushing), “slow-traveling” prioritizes the experience of getting to know a small community, town, or city in depth. It helps you form a much deeper connection with the place you’re visiting. 
You reach a point where you recognize your neighbors, find your favorite spot for coffee, and can even give directions to lost tourists who mistake you for a local. Over the past few months, I’ve discovered that this is how I enjoy traveling the most, and I spend at least a week in every new place I visit.
Given its history and tourism infrastructure, Europe is the perfect destination for this kind of trip. At the same time, I believe that this idea of getting to know a place in depth and without rushing can be directly applied to the experience of exploring new architectural styles and the various possibilities they offer. It’s when you have time and peace of mind that you can truly notice details that would otherwise slip by unnoticed.
If I had to give one piece of advice to an architecture student, it would be to make the most of every opportunity to travel during and after finishing their studies. While it may sound cliché to say that travel broadens the mind and expands one’s horizons, it is no less true for that. Travel, rather than just an escape from routine, should be seen as a way to learn about the world and about oneself, and without a doubt, in recent months I have learned far more than I could have expected about my profession and about myself.
*José Bonifacino'sInstagram, where he documents his journey through numerous photos.