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So, going back to just before my first day. I’d been working for the Sports Council and we’d just completed a remodelling of all the installations in order to move from oil to gas, and a former colleague on the Council who had moved here, Alfonso Luengo, contacted me because there were problems. This was a time when there were leaks in the building and the Head of Works and Maintenance had been fired. So he suggested that I move to the Prado to take that position. To be honest I had a lot of doubts as I was extremely happy where I was. But the fact is, for an architect, being able to mention the Museo del Prado and working here was really tempting. In the end, after thinking about it a lot, I agreed to move.
After I arrived the first thing I did was was meet the team, of course. Then I went to my office, my “official office”, which was over the Velázquez entrance. I was met by the temporary head of works and maintenance who was there until the post was filled. This was Juan José Román, who surprisingly and even though I was about to take over his job welcomed and received me with enormous dignity, really amazing... I mean, he behaved impeccably. We worked together for many years as he carried on but working under me: he as Head of Team and me as Head of Department. And I really have to express my thanks to Juan José Román for his way of being, his way of behaving and his help and support.
The first things I did were meet with him and exchange views and introduce myself to the people working with maintenance: the climate control team, electricity, various different skills, etc. Of course I met the manager, who at that time was Juan Cámara, and his assistant, Luis Buñuel. I would also like to express my thanks to Luis Buñuel because what he did what he said he would. He told me how it was going to work, how we were going to work, how I was going to take up my job, and the fact is that he carried out everything that he told me he would. I mean, very serious people.
He worked at the Museo del Prado as Head of the Area of Works and Maintenance from 1994 to 2009. He works as an architect, participating in major projects such as the remodelling of the roof, the Museum's extension or the re-model and enlarge of the Casón del Buen Retiro.
Interview recorded on May 09, 2018
