The recent opening of photographer Annie Leibovitz’s exhibition in A Coruña, organized by Marta Ortega, has once again drawn attention to her close circle. The Inditex president appeared alongside Linda Evangelista and Pedro Almodóvar at the Marta Ortega Pérez Foundation (MOP) space, whose design was crafted by her longtime friend, architect Elsa Urquijo. This project is just one of many in their shared history, a relationship that has long grown from professional to a strong personal friendship. The fact that Urquijo flies in the private jet of Amancio Ortega’s heiress speaks volumes about the depth of their bond, built over many years. It was Elsa who designed the family’s home in a 19th-century historic building in O Parrote, where, in 2018, Marta Ortega and Carlos Torretta held their private civil wedding ceremony.
Thus, Elsa Urquijo has firmly established herself within the exclusive inner circle of Inditex heiress’s confidantes, a group that could be seen as an unofficial ranking of Spain’s most influential women. This elite circle also includes model and businesswoman Eugenia Silva, entrepreneur Carla Vega-Penichet, and Isabel Junot, wife of Álvaro Falcó. Urquijo, a graduate of the Higher Technical School of Architecture at the University of A Coruña, gained experience in international projects before founding her own firm, Elsa Urquijo Architects, in 2000. Today, she leads a team of more than 25 professionals, delivering projects of various scales: from commercial spaces for global brands such as ZARA and Carolina Herrera, to social facilities and exclusive private residences around the world.
Her architectural approach is deeply rooted in her Galician heritage, with a spatial concept marked by particular sensitivity, introspection, and a constant pursuit of simplicity and lasting aesthetics. Over the course of her career, Elsa Urquijo has received numerous prestigious awards, including the WAN Award and the BORN Award. In 2016, she also took part in the Venice Architecture Biennale with her installation “In Finisterrae,” further cementing her international recognition.
Over the years, Elsa Urquijo has become the chief architect for Amancio Ortega and his daughter Marta. Her studio in La Coruña has executed projects for the textile giant himself, for the Amancio Ortega Foundation, and even for the personal needs of the entrepreneur’s family. Notably, her signature appears on the designs of flagship ZARA stores in New York, Hong Kong, Vienna, as well as on Madrid’s prestigious Serrano and Gran Vía streets.
“Amancio Ortega noticed my work, entrusted me with one of his homes, and we immediately understood each other,” she shared in an interview. Urquijo explained that she first caught the attention of the Inditex founder back in the late ’90s, when she was collaborating with Adolfo Domínguez. She speaks of the businessman with deep respect: “He has a gift—he knows how to bring out the best in everyone.” Since then, Elsa Urquijo’s personal and professional relationship with Spain’s wealthiest family has only grown stronger. Both sides found the perfect synergy in designing commercial spaces, which the architect describes as follows: “Designing a store means creating a place that offers something beyond clothes; it’s about evoking an atmosphere where you feel truly comfortable. A place that brings you peace.”
By the way, Inditex (Industria de Diseño Textil, S.A.) is not just any company—it’s one of the world’s largest fashion retail groups. Founded by Amancio Ortega, it owns such globally recognized brands as Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, and Zara Home. The company’s business model, known as “fast fashion,” allows it to respond instantly to shifting trends and deliver new collections to its stores worldwide within just a few weeks. This approach has revolutionized the fashion industry and made Amancio Ortega one of the wealthiest people on the planet. The corporation’s headquarters are located in Arteixo, in the province of A Coruña, underscoring the family’s deep connection to their native Galicia.
