Winners of 18th Annual Tile of Spain Awards Announced

Tile of Spain, the association of over 125 Spanish tile manufacturers, announces the winners of the 18th annual Tile of Spain Awards of Architecture and Interior Design. The panel of judges, chaired by architect Jacob van Rijs of MVRDV, met on Wednesday, November 20^th to select the award winners.

Winners – Architecture

In the Architecture category, the award went to the “Centro de investigación del Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona” designed by PICHarchitects/Pich-Aguilera and 2BMFG Arquitectes. Members of the judging panel judging were impressed by the use of ceramics to mimic the buildings environment. Ceramic tile enveloped the facade of the existing building in a transparent “ceramic skin” to create a harmonious balance between the interior and exterior of the hospital.

Two special mentions were also made in this category. The first “Patio de los valientes y nueva sala de padres” by Elisa Valero. The judges highlighted the unexpected use of identical ceramic pieces to create a dramatic geometric space. The second special mention went to “Edificio Tívoli. Rehabilitación de edificio para 22 viviendas, local y aparcamientos” by Martín Lejárraga. The judges valued the strategic contrasting revitalization of the building.

Interior Design

First prize in the Interior Design category was awarded to “Sala de espera en las dársenas de una estación de autobuses” by José María Sánchez Garíca. The judges applauded the relationship between the ceramic details, geometric construction, and expansive space to create a harmonious waiting area for travelers.

The judges also granted two special mentions in the Interior Design category. The first went to Vora Arquitectura for “Vallirana 47”, a 1920s farmhouse remodeled with ceramic tiles of different shapes, patterns and colors. The second mention was awarded to Kengo Kuma and Javier Villar Ruiz of KKA for their project, “Camper Paseo de Grácia” where ceramics is the prominent material of the multi-functional commercial space.

Final Degree Project

In the category reserved for Architecture students, the winning project was awarded to “Memento Mori. La presencia de la ausencia” the work of Óscar Cruz García from the Madrid School of Architecture. The judges admired the maturity and sensitivity of the student’s detailed design.

Two special mentions were also awarded to “Dance School” by Alexey Agarkov from the Moscow School of Architecture and “Barcelona Fabrica” by Felipe Sancho Cervera from the Barcelona School of Architecture.

The Judges

The panel of judges was chaired by Jacob van Rijs, an architect and urban planner born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Rijs who studied at the Delft University of Technology became a founding partner of “MVRDV” in 1993. In addition to his professional practice, Rijs is a faculty member at the University of Berlin.

The panel of judges also included Inês Lobo (Inês Lobo Architecture), David Lorente (H Architects), Eugeni Bach (Anna & Eugeni Bach), Héctor Ruiz Velázquez (Ruiz Velázquez Architecture & Design Team); Tomoko Sakamoto (Spread Editores) and Ramon Monfort, a founding member of the Centre of Ceramic Design.

About the Awards

The objective of the Tile of Spain Awards is to promote the use of Spanish ceramic tiles in architecture and interior design projects (both in Spain and abroad). The awards are sponsored Endesa, Weber-Saint Gobain, the Port Authority of Valencia, and CESCE. The program boasts a consolidated trajectory and are held in high esteem by architecture professionals.

The Tile of Spain Awards offer cash prizes totaling over $44,000 that are divided among three areas. The two main categories – Architecture and Interior Design – each have a cash prize of over $19,000. Special mentions may also be made in both categories, based on the judges’ criteria. The third category, the Final Degree Project, targets students of architecture and has a cash prize of over $5,000. In all three categories, entries are welcome from both Spanish and international participants.

The award ceremony will be held on February 4^th, 2020 in Valencia during CEVISAMA. Full details of this and previous editions of the awards are available at www.tileofspainawards.com

About Tile of Spain

In Spain, tile makers labor as they have for centuries – pushing their passion for design and innovation to new levels of artisanship. With one of the purest and strongest domestic clays available, Spanish manufacturers have an unparalleled ability to make the product more diverse. From rustic handmade forms; to technical facades that cool buildings and clean the air; to the impossibly slim, sustainable recycled and ink jet masterpieces that fire the imagination. The Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (ASCER) is the private organization whose primary objective is to support Spain’s ceramic tile manufacturers and the industry by stewarding and promoting the Tile of Spain brand worldwide. A strong global leader, the ceramic tile industry of Spain comprises of over 120 manufacturers concentrated primarily in the province of Castellón.

For more about tile produced in Spain, contact Tile of Spain Center at the Trade Commission of Spain, 2655 Le Jeune Road, Suite 1114, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Call 305-446-4387 or visit http://www.tileofspainusa.com.