Your Interview Ainara Bilbao

Introduce yourself (name, company, position, country) and tell us how you got into lighting design (including education/qualifications).

Hello, my name is Ainara Bilbao. I am a Spanish architect and lighting designer. I became a lighting designer throughout my years of professional practice, as at that time there were hardly any formal training programmes in lighting design in Spain. Currently, I work both as a university lecturer at the Barcelona School of Architecture and as a designer in the Projects Department of Urbidermis – Santa & Cole Group.

Tell us about your work – is there a specific type of project you like to work on or an area you specialise in and why?

Over the years, I have developed architectural lighting projects, mainly for interior spaces but across a wide range of typologies: educational centres, libraries, residential buildings, housing, etc. In recent years, my work has shifted towards outdoor space, and I am currently involved in urban lighting projects, including squares, streets, parks, and large-scale urban lighting masterplans.

What project are you most proud of and why?

The most special project I have been involved in is the interior lighting of the Sagrada Família, where we renewed the entire functional lighting system. We particularly enjoyed working on the localized and integrated lighting within the singular architectural elements of this unique space. In addition to the temple itself, I also collaborated on lighting projects for other areas of the basilica, both public and private, where we faced very high demands in terms of quality and responsibility, given that we were working on the most emblematic building by Gaudí and one of the most iconic landmarks of the city of Barcelona.

What is the biggest challenge that you have overcome in your career?

Alongside my professional practice, I have also been involved in teaching and research. Recently, I successfully defended my doctoral thesis, which focuses on defining the main terms used in professional practice to describe the distribution of light in architectural space. Changing my mindset from doing to thinking and writing has not been easy, but it has been deeply enriching. It has been a long journey that has allowed me to explore aspects of light and lighting that we often cannot delve into in day-to-day practice. I hope this work will become a useful tool for the Spanish-speaking community and, in the future, for designers working in other languages as well.

How does light inspire you?

Light inspires me to see and observe space in a more conscious way, by deepening the relationship between light and matter and achieving a richer perception than that obtained through ordinary observation. I am fascinated by perceptual phenomena and by how the human mind processes light, as well as by the emotional charge that a carefully designed lighting scheme can convey. Light inspires me not only to look, but also to communicate what I observe to others. I never tire of talking about light with students and the general public in any available forum: classes, radio, talks, and client training sessions.

What is your message for other Women In Lighting?

After decades of predominantly functionalist approaches, we are now at a moment where emotion and respect are guiding lighting design, allowing us to explore highly expressive new paths. This way of thinking is often associated with a more feminine perspective, and women have a great deal to contribute. I believe we can and must be visible, so that the names of great women lighting designers take their rightful place alongside the male figures who have traditionally been our references in the profession.