Carlos in Wonderland

17 Feb

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn’t. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn’t be. And what it wouldn’t be, it would. You see?”

(Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass)

Vision. Imagination. Fantasy.

Words so often bandied around in the world of property – and yet so little understood and practically applied in the real everyday built environment.

And so it was with great pleasure when I recently met with the inspirational artist and architect Carlos Calderon Yruegas (who works under the name SOLRAC) because he has literally transformed what was a plot of sand (that was sand, not land) into an evocative expression of his life.

But, of course what more can be expected of an artist who has hobnobbed with Picasso and brought down Dali a peg or two!

Nowhere else have I ever seen a private residence of such lavish creativity and expression – and I doubt many planners in the world would allow such an inventive property to be permitted. SOLRAC’s vision is reminiscent of the Willy Wonka song:

“There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you’ll be free if you truly wish to be”

(Willy Wonka; Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory)

And which reminds us all that we don’t have to accept only the things in life that are placed before our eyes – we should dare to dream and make our dreams come true.

Grand Designs, Dream Houses, Fantasy Living – should all be ours for the taking – if only we dare to dream…and then make it a reality.

And as for Carlos – I take my (hard) hat off to him – and I dream that one day I too, will have a bed in the stars – just like this: (who would ever have guessed that’s what this room is!)