First prize in the Interior Design category has been achieved by The Blue Wave Cocktail Bar in Barcelona with its bespoke shell-shaped tiles decorating the floors, walls and ceilings.
The panel of judges comprised: Víctor López Cotelo, Laura Andreini, Marcos Cruz, Isabel López Vilalta, Juan Domingo Santos, Édgar González and Ramón Monfort.
"Multipurpose Educational Hall at the Gavina School" by Carmen Martínez Gregori, Carmel Gradolo Martínez and Arturo Sanz Martínez. Photograph: Mariela Pollonio.
First prize – Architecture
The judges for the Tile of Spain Awards for Architecture and Interior Design, chaired by architect Victor López Cotelo, have chosen the "Multipurpose Educational Hall at the Gavina School" (Picanya, Valencia) by Carmen Martínez Gregori, Carmel Gradolo Martínez and Arturo Sanz Martínez to receive top honours in the prestigious Architecture category.
The construction of a new multipurpose facility was part of a recent extension to the Gavina school, originally built in 1980. The new hall features a latticework facade made of Estartit by Cerámica Ferres: square volumetric ceramic pieces enclosed within safety glass and fitted onto a metallic structure in a random colour combination. High-traffic floor tiles by Porcelanosa have also been used throughout the school to secure easy maintenance and high slip resistance. The panel of judges praised the simplicity and effectiveness of this project, highlighting the smart application of ceramics to resolve acoustic and light control challenges and to create a connection between the interior space and its surroundings.
Special mention – Architecture
"Saint Roch Car Park" by Archikubik. Photograph: Adrià Goula.
A special mention went to the "Saint Roch Car Park" (Montpellier, France) by Archikubik. The building that currently serves as the connection between the nearby train station and central square is part of an ambitious urban regeneration project and is planned to also host offices and family homes in the future. Its signature feature is an eye-catching 7.500 sq.m facade constructed from innovative Flexbrick ceramic fabric – a set of fired clay pieces pre-installed onto a flexible steel mesh. The judges particularly appreciated the original and systematic use of ceramic tiles as a visual and sunlight filter that adds a sense of unity to this multifunctional building in the heart of Montpellier’s city centre.
First prize – Interior Design
"Blue Wave Cocktail Bar" by El Equipo Creativo. Photograph: Adrià Goula.
The panel of judges awarded first prize in the Interior Design category to the "Blue Wave Cocktail Bar" (Barcelona) by El Equipo Creativo for "the intriguing exploration and application of the technical and functional qualities of ceramic tiles".
Highlights of this seafront project include the creative use of handcrafted bespoke shell-shaped ceramics by Spanish specialist Ceramica Cumella. Ceramics in seven different shades of blue, inspired by the colours of the marine tides, were installed on the floor, walls and ceiling. Feature elements such as "see-through" ceiling and wall panels with arched tiles in deep blue playfully "filter" the Mediterranean sun, enhanced by the mix and match of gloss and matt finishes.
Special Mention – Interior Design
The judges also awarded two Special Mentions in this category: the first went to the "Disfrutar Restaurant" also by El Equipo Creativo, for "its excellent work exploring the possibilities of ceramic tiles and their applications", and the second to "L’Àtic Vernacle" by El Fabricante de Espheras for its "simplicity and austerity in the choice of materials, skilfully creating a delightful living space."
"Disfrutar Restaurant" by El Equipo Creativo. Photograph: Adrià Goula.
The "Disfrutar Restaurant" in a busy street in the Eixample district of Barcelona makes colourful use of a variety of artisan tiles by Ceramica Cumella and Ceramica Ferres, inspired by the shades of the spices sold at the nearby Ninot Market. Ceramics are present throughout, reflecting the history and artistic legacy of the Mediterranean – from Juan Miró inspired tile murals and eye-catching latticework, to unglazed terracotta for the open plan kitchen, to tiles with nature inspired patterns on the bars and table tops.
"L’Àtic Vernacle" by El Fabricante de Espheras. Photograph: Milena Villalba.
"L’àtic Vernacle" is a home renovation project, blurring the boundaries between contemporary and traditional in a village close to Valencia, set amidst orange trees and a disused ceramic tile factory. Ceramics were at the heart of the project and served as the unifying element for the living space. The vast floors feature 12x24x2.5cm terracotta tiles by Decorativa with a natural finish and the wall skirting and wet zones are decorated with 12.5×12.5cm handmade white ceramics with mother-of-pearl finish by Cebis Ceramica.
Further honours:
First prize in the Degree Project category went to "Transhumant Renovation" by Laura Alonso Blasco from the Madrid School of Architecture (ETSAM). The judges stressed her "in-depth technical knowledge and understanding of the material and the experimental use of ceramic tiles".
Among the shortlisted finalists for the awards were projects such as:
Renovation of a former commercial building into a family home by Arrokabe (Coverlam tiles by Grespania)
La Nucia administrative facilities extension by Crystalzoo (tiles by Ceramica Cumella)
CDS House by Juan de Dios Trías de Bes Mingot (tiles by Piera Ecoceramica)
Office cloakroom facilities by Eduardo Gil, Aina Jaume, Fernando Pérez and Inmaculada Rovira (Neolith tiles by TheSize)
House IV by Mesura (tiles by Ceramica Elias)
Catedral Restaurant by Blurarquitectura (terracotta and glazed tiles by Ceramica Elias)
Renovation of a country house in Emporda by Arquitectura-G (tiles by Ceramica Ferres and Ceramica Salcamar)
Over a decade of the Tile of Spain Awards…
The Tile of Spain Awards celebrate the creative and innovative use of Spanish ceramics in interior design and architecture. Now in their fourteenth year, the Tile of Spain Awards have earned significant recognition within the architecture community. Both the quality of the judging panels and the standard of the winning projects have established these awards, organised by ASCER, as a notable reference both in Spain and internationally.
Architecture and Interior Design make up the two main categories in the Tile of Spain Awards, each with cash prizes worth €17,000. There is also a Degree Project category targeting students of architecture, with a prize of €5,000.