Juan Benavides is an architect who makes films. He runs a filmmaking studio focused on producing short and long-format documentaries that explore buildings with strong formal clarity, rich spatial and material conditions, and set against inspiring landscapes. At present, he is based in Europe mostly producing films and teaching at The Berlage.
Film Commissions & Inquiries
mail@juanbenavides.mx
To browse the catalog of films, please visit on your desktop browser, at vimeo.com/juanbenavidesl or follow @juanbenavidesl
︎Film Commissions & Inquiries
mail@juanbenavides.mx
To browse the catalog of films, please visit on your desktop browser, at vimeo.com/juanbenavidesl or follow @juanbenavidesl
RECENT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
April 14, 2025
A review of ‘At the Graden’s Pace’ in World-Architects: “Architects Building in the Garden” by Nishi Shah
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Read review
Read reviewFebruary 14, 2025
February 12, 2025
Upcoming screening of ‘At the Garden’s Pace’ in the Faculty of Architecture in TU Delft, organized by ARGUS
![At the Garden's Pace, Juan Benavides, Enzo Valerio, ARGUS, TU Delft.]()
After premiering at the AFFR in 2024, the movie will be showed for the first time in 2025 at the TU Delft via the newly established “ARGUS in conversation” program.
After premiering at the AFFR in 2024, the movie will be showed for the first time in 2025 at the TU Delft via the newly established “ARGUS in conversation” program.
January 30, 2025
The new book on the work of MORK-ULNES is now available through Park Books.
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The publication features in the cover and inside a collection of stills from a series of short films made for the office in recent years in both Norway and the United States.
Link to Park Books
The publication features in the cover and inside a collection of stills from a series of short films made for the office in recent years in both Norway and the United States.
Link to Park Books
January 22, 2025
Upcoming screening dates in the Netherlands for the documentary ‘At the Garden’s Pace’
February 19 — Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft
February 27 — MIMIK Deventer
February 19 — Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft
February 27 — MIMIK Deventer
October 10, 2024
Sold out room for the world premiere of ‘At the Garden’s Pace’ in the AFFR
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Photo: Sander van Wettum
Photo: Sander van Wettum
September 9, 2024
The documentary ‘At the Garden’s Pace’ will have its world premiere at the AFFR in October
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Watch trailer
Watch trailerSeptember 1, 2024
June 6, 2024
‘Ten Films, One Animation, and Ten Other Films’, Lecture at Nudus Academy in Rotterdam
February 29, 2024
‘Many Films and One Vernissage’, Lecture at TU Delft, as part of a lecture series organized by Max Hart Nibbrig
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February 14, 2024
‘Notes on Filmmaking‘, Lecture at Universidad Anáhuac, as part of Empalmes, a lecture series organized by Jimena Hogrebe
November 22, 2023
New project: House in Veľký Klíž. Design of a house for a writer in slovak countryside.
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October 13, 2023
Proud to announce that Rain Harvest Home was awarded the third place award at the Istanbul International Architecture and Urban Films Festival
September 14, 2023
The short film Rain Harvest Home has been selected for the Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam, the International Architecture Film Festival Barcelona, and the Istanbul International Architecture and Urban Films Festival
May 13, 2023
April 25, 2023
Starting to work on a year-long documentary about the Villa Waalre designed by Russell Jones
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January 25, 2023
Simon Architecture Prize in Barcelona
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Last summer I traveled to Mexico City with Robert Hutchison and Javier Sánchez to make a short documentary about their project in Valle de Bravo, Rain Harvest Home. The result is a 9-minute film to be released later this year. In the meantime, a short version of the film was made for the Simon Architecture Prize and is available to watch at the link below. The project is among the five finalists in the category of Personal Places.
Last summer I traveled to Mexico City with Robert Hutchison and Javier Sánchez to make a short documentary about their project in Valle de Bravo, Rain Harvest Home. The result is a 9-minute film to be released later this year. In the meantime, a short version of the film was made for the Simon Architecture Prize and is available to watch at the link below. The project is among the five finalists in the category of Personal Places.
August 28, 2022
New film about Moya House in Mexico City
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Pigmented concrete, a curved dome, a clear volumetry...
The film about Moya House focuses on the experience of walking through the stairs, the lights and shadows casted on the concrete surfaces, and the views discovered along the journey. In a very introspective way, the film remains inside of the house, while the opening scene offers a glimpse of what lies beyond the walls.
Pigmented concrete, a curved dome, a clear volumetry...
The film about Moya House focuses on the experience of walking through the stairs, the lights and shadows casted on the concrete surfaces, and the views discovered along the journey. In a very introspective way, the film remains inside of the house, while the opening scene offers a glimpse of what lies beyond the walls.
July 1, 2022
New film about Octothorpe House
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A soccer match, an enclosed courtyard, an ice cream, shadow play...
The film about Octothorpe House is presented in a series of sequences with each introducing a different subject and space. From the dog’s life as he lays on the concrete floor and the intense soccer match happening inside the garage, to the views from within the enclosed courtyard and the reflection of the desert landscape in the exterior windows.
The film was produced for MORK-ULNES, an international architecture practice with offices in San Francisco, California and Oslo, Norway.
A soccer match, an enclosed courtyard, an ice cream, shadow play...
The film about Octothorpe House is presented in a series of sequences with each introducing a different subject and space. From the dog’s life as he lays on the concrete floor and the intense soccer match happening inside the garage, to the views from within the enclosed courtyard and the reflection of the desert landscape in the exterior windows.
The film was produced for MORK-ULNES, an international architecture practice with offices in San Francisco, California and Oslo, Norway.
April 26, 2022
New film about Frame House in Sonoma
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A concrete framework, a loggia, a hillside, a sunrise and a sunset...
From the first touch of the sun in the morning to the last reflection of it on the windows, the film about Frame House in the Sonoma countryside was filmed over the course of two days, moving across the site as the light was casting across and around the building.
The film was produced for MORK-ULNES, an international architecture practice with offices in San Francisco, California and Oslo, Norway.
A concrete framework, a loggia, a hillside, a sunrise and a sunset...
From the first touch of the sun in the morning to the last reflection of it on the windows, the film about Frame House in the Sonoma countryside was filmed over the course of two days, moving across the site as the light was casting across and around the building.
The film was produced for MORK-ULNES, an international architecture practice with offices in San Francisco, California and Oslo, Norway.
April 11, 2022
New film about a House with a Yoga Studio
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A densely forested lot, dapple light over wooden beams, an electric guitar, bees over ham and cheese, red wine...
Designed by Robert Hutchison Architecture, the project considers the renovation and expansion of a 1960s residence. The film presents a day in the life of the house, from the set up for a morning yoga group class to the preparations for hosting an evening party at the terrace.
A densely forested lot, dapple light over wooden beams, an electric guitar, bees over ham and cheese, red wine...
Designed by Robert Hutchison Architecture, the project considers the renovation and expansion of a 1960s residence. The film presents a day in the life of the house, from the set up for a morning yoga group class to the preparations for hosting an evening party at the terrace.
Febraury 23, 2022
New film about Suncrest Residence
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A pacific madrone tree, a pair of binoculars, a prominent outcropping of rock, views to the sea, a golden tint over wood and concrete...
This is the first of three films produced for Heliotrope Architects in Orcas Island. Along with Joe Herrin, we traveled to this remote home to film over the course of one day The film follows the shape of the house by walking through the corridor from side to side. Three stops along the way highlight important elements of the design.
A pacific madrone tree, a pair of binoculars, a prominent outcropping of rock, views to the sea, a golden tint over wood and concrete...
This is the first of three films produced for Heliotrope Architects in Orcas Island. Along with Joe Herrin, we traveled to this remote home to film over the course of one day The film follows the shape of the house by walking through the corridor from side to side. Three stops along the way highlight important elements of the design.