"The slow passage of time, something this city [Segovia] and its iconic aqueduct represents, gives a challenge to architects," began Levete. "Architects feel the weight of history, the challenge to remain relevant."
Levete's recent projects have included the Victoria & Albert Museum Exhibition Road quarter in London, the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MATT) in Lisbon, the Central Embassy in Bangkok and a media campus and headquarters for broadcaster Sky in London. She was previously a partner of Future Systems where she realised buildings including the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning media centre at Lords Cricket grounds in London and Selfridges department store in Birmingham.
"The role of the architect goes well beyond the idea of buildings as containers," she argued. "You have to consider the wider impact, the people who will pass it every day."
Levete started her career in the studio of another iconic British architect: Richard Rogers. "He taught me the importance of creating culture in an office. Once you have established the culture of your office, the work almost looks after itself," she said.
Since her early days of designing, much has changed in the industry thanks to vast technological advances and an increased public awareness of architecture as an art form.
"I feel conflicted about Instagram," she said. "I came off it because it was too much of a distraction. There is a temptation when designing now of imagining where the money shot will be. It’s a dangerous path to go along. Architecture is a complex piece of thinking. It’s important to reveal that complexity and not just focus on a money shot.
"But what’s powerful about it is that it helps inform a collective memory of buildings. It has helped popularise architecture."
And the next big project for Levete? A collaboration with a Spanish researcher who has found a way to turn wood translucent. Coming to a building near you in 2020...
Find our more about Amanda Levete's work here and explore the rest of the Hay Festival Segovia programme here.