Trademarks and bricks: in “Javier Eguía: we aim to stay one step ahead,” we meet a man known for his work as a trademark and patent agent. He also builds and remodels buildings, applying a wide variety of styles and designs.
A journey into Javier Eguía’s inner world
You could say that, as he grew up, Javier crossed the city from southeast to northwest: “I was born and spent my childhood in Barrio Crisol; as a teenager I moved to Nueva Córdoba, and when I got married I came to Villa Belgrano. I’ve lived in Lomas de la Carolina since 2001,” he says.
What do you remember about the places of your childhood?
“My house in Barrio Crisol. In the backyard I had a sandbox where I loved to play. There was also a vegetable garden that I loved, but what I enjoyed most was riding my bike on the sidewalk. I still remember how happy I was when my mom let me ride all the way around the block.”
Of the things you mention, which are still part of Javier Eguía’s life?
“I have to confess that the one who keeps the vegetable garden at home today is my wife (laughs); I’ve left that behind. As a kid, I liked building houses and castles in the sandbox. As an adult, in addition to my profession as an industrial and intellectual property agent, I’ve been heavily involved in real estate for quite some time. I build; I put up buildings, which gives me great satisfaction, because my professional work is a service and completely intangible.”
How did you get into building?
“I’ve always believed you have to diversify in a country as volatile as this one. I liked the real estate business, and it worked out for me. The first thing I did was manage some of my father’s properties when I was 17, then my uncle’s; later I took on debt, bought, and kept the wheel turning, right up to today.”
Are you very hands-on?
“Yes, and I have the support of my wife, Verónica Cima, who is an attorney but whose second profession is design. We both like to get involved, and we enjoy taking part in the design. We look for collaborators who challenge us with new ideas. In Córdoba it’s easy to stand out if you’ve traveled the world a bit; you don’t need to be especially clever to do something different. Unfortunately, I think Córdoba has declined a lot over the last 20 years. That’s why we try to do our bit for a more beautiful, sustainable, and friendly city, to do attractive things that people like. It doesn’t cost much more money to do things thoughtfully; maybe a bit more time and effort.”
What style do you identify with?
“I couldn’t say we have one style we like best. My house in the city is modern, white, with aluminum windows and doors. The country house, on the other hand, is in a mountain style, with stone, wood, and also aluminum windows and doors, but very much integrated into its surroundings: Clarín named it the best house in Córdoba in 2012. This building, where the office is and which is also mine, is, I think, one of the most beautiful in Cerro de las Rosas: it has a fountain at the entrance, a well-kept garden, stone cladding—details that make a difference. Now we’re refurbishing another building in a vintage industrial style, like the Güemes neighborhood, and we’re marketing it because we think young people may like it. We don’t tie ourselves to any one style, but we always try to stay one step ahead, and I think we succeed,” says Javier Eguía.
How does Javier approach details?
“In this office, for example, you can see a wall made of wooden railroad ties (set vertically) facing another made of U-Glass (a glass wall): we play with those contrasts.”
Do you incorporate technology?
“We live in Córdoba, and you have to know the market you work in. I can’t expect to build things that won’t sell here, so we apply the best technology the market allows: nobody here is going to pay for a raised access floor with 20 centimeters of clearance. Of course, we include all the necessary features, but without going to New York or Puerto Madero extremes. Within the market, we try to be 5 to 10% better.”
And in your personal life?
“I use my phone for news and communication, but I also set limits. I hardly use Facebook, and I don’t even have email on my phone anymore. Email stopped being instant the way it used to be before WhatsApp, which is the app I use most. Today you can easily take a day to answer an email, to think, so I removed it from my phone. I’m in touch with many clients through WhatsApp, which I use on my computer.”
And for entertainment?
“I really like astronomy, and right now I’m hooked on an app called Star Tracker, which tells you the names of the stars you’re pointing your phone at and which constellation they belong to. Of course I check the weather, and for music I have Spotify Premium: we share it as a family, and I use it more on my phone via Bluetooth than on the computer. We also have Netflix. I’m not an Apple fan; I use Sony. No headphones, though, because I’m afraid I might not hear a car.”
Is your phone integrated with your car?
“My car is an Audi, but it doesn’t have Bluetooth (laughs). It’s an A3 Cabriolet. The car I liked most was the one I had as a young man, a Suzuki Vitara, at 20. I saved a lot to buy it; I loved it and took it everywhere. I had to sell it because I got married, but it gave me a lot of joy. The A3 is fantastic, it runs really well, and we also have the family car, a Toyota Prado SUV, very reliable; we’ve taken many family trips in it. In fact, I switched to a newer model and sold the old one to a friend. Every time I see him, I tell him, ‘Take good care of my car’ (laughs). In the city I prefer the car, but on the highway, the SUV, no doubt.”
What would you replace the A3 with?
“I really like the Q5 (Audi), a different size, obviously, and I also really like BMWs, though I’ve never owned one, just taken a few test drives. Audi and BMW are the same thing: wonderful.”
Does driving relax you?
“Yes. There are few moments when you’re alone and nobody can interrupt you. The car is one of them: you’re there listening to the music you like, and I enjoy being unreachable for a while. I also use driving for a few getaways; soon I’ll be going camping with my kids. We’ve climbed every hill in Córdoba.”
Javier Eguía closed the interview with the following words, mentioning another of his hobbies.
“I like driving to hard-to-reach places, leaving the car, and continuing on foot. The sierras are wonderful for that,” says Javier Eguía.
