Tile of Spain Awards, Architecture-Interior Design Prize, Buildings

Tile of Spain Awards 2013 : Architecture-Interior Design Contest

International Architectural Awards 2013

10 Dec 2013

Tile of Spain Awards 2013 Winners

An urban social project and a private residence win top prizes at the 2013 Tile of Spain Awards

10 December 2013 – The results of the prestigious Tile of Spain Awards for 2013 have now been announced:

First prize in the Architecture category has been awarded to Pol Fermenias for the “Renovation of Riera de la Salut” – an urban intervention using ceramic tiles, this project was designed to enhance a public space, during a time of difficult social and economic conditions.

First prize in the Interior Design category has been awarded to “Casa Luz” – a single family dwelling and the work of the up and coming Arquitectura-G studio, which was created by former students of the ESARQ Ceramic Tile Studies Department (International University of Catalonia)

The panel of judges comprised: Manuel Gallego, Ignacio García Pedrosa, Francisco Freire, Luca Molinari, Tomás Alonso and Ramón Monfort

First prize in Architecture

Renovation of Riera de la Salut by Pol Femenias

photo : O.M. Estudi

The distinguished panel of judges of the Tile of Spain Awards for Architecture and Interior Design, chaired by the highly-respected architect Manuel Gallego chose the “Renovation of Riera de la Salut” by Pol Femenias Ureña for first prize in the Architecture category for both its aesthetic and its social credentials. This ‘urban intervention’ is located in one of the most built up areas of Sant Feliu de Llobregat, a lower income district in the outskirts of Barcelona, that sprang up around the town’s textile factories.

photo : O.M. Estudi

A considerable void space was left following the demolition of one of the last remaining factories in the area, revealing the once concealed walls of the rear courtyards belonging to nearby housing. The architect decided to build a 150 m “parapet” using bespoke ceramic tiles as a way of filtering the view of these courtyards and creating a more welcoming and manageable public space.

The architects opted for a simple geometry to form the self-supporting latticework, which is made up of three glazed ceramic pieces fired at a high temperature. These pieces consist of a 20 x 20 x 20 cm cube, a solid 20 x 13.5 cm diamond and a perforated 20 x 13.5 cm diamond, manufactured by Spanish specialists Cerámica Cumella.

photo : O.M. Estudi

The jury particularly valued “this solution for a large scale transformation, using the repetition and arrangement of small ceramic tiles to successfully create urban elements such as latticework or walls and to provide individual answers for a range of challenges. These were, crucially, affordable elements offering creative solutions to add quality and value while enhancing a shared space within the city.”

First prize in Interior Design

Casa Luz by Arquitectura_G

photo : José Hevia

First prize in the Interior Design category went to the project entitled “Casa Luz” by the young Spanish studio Arquitectura-G, which was praised for giving new life to a traditional Spanish village house that was in a ruinous state. The project team salvaged the traditional stone façade, while creating an entirely new interior layout around the house’s former courtyard.

photo : José Hevia

Local know how and traditional natural materials such as Spanish ceramics were key to the design and in line with the architects’ objective of honouring the geographic context. The floor and the ceiling at ground level are completely clad in a layer of earthy red Catalan tiles, while the bathroom walls are faced with 15 x 15 cm glazed ceramics by Spanish manufacturer Cerámica Vives, featuring a high gloss finish that reflects the foliage in the courtyard, a reminder of the history of the old house.

photo : José Hevia

In this case the judges were particularly impressed by the idea of “inserting” a completely new interior while preserving the historic shell of the existing building, thereby creating an elegant yet simple architectural solution for the house. “The sense of quality is achieved through the highly specific and coherent use of ceramic tiles which generate a warm environment. Integration is achieved through the use of building systems and textures that create a sense of continuity with the existing architecture,” commented the jury.

Further Honours

First prize in the Degree Project category went to Gohar Manrique San Pedro for his project entitled “Research Centre for the Promotion and Conservation of the Heritage of New Gourna (Luxor, Egypt)”. The judges highlighted the “rigour, development and coherence of a project whose principal difficulty lay in creating a contextual language with the existing constructions, achieved through the use of structural and building systems based entirely on ceramic elements”. The panel also agreed to grant a special mention to the project entitled “Remodelling of the Arnau Theatre in Barcelona”, the work of Laura Bonell Mas from the Barcelona School of Architecture for the “rigour of the proposal and the degree of development”.

Among the shortlisted finalists for the awards were projects such as:

Roca Shanghai Gallery by Francesc Rifé (tiles by Roca)

photo from Roca Shanghai Gallery

“4 in 1 house” by Manuel Clavel Rojo (tiles by Cerámica Ribesalbes)

photo : David Frutos

Casa Zinganshina by BailoRull+ADD Arquitectura (tiles by Natucer)

photo : Jose Hevia

A university building and library extension by Juan Beldarrain Santos (tiles by Porcelanosa and Cerámica Cumella)

photograph : C Martingaite

Casa Bitxo by Lagula Arquitectes SLP (tiles by Cerámica Cumella)

photo from architects

The extension of the Lisbon Aquarium by Pedro Campos Costa (tiles by Cerámica Cumella)

photo : Daniel Malhão

Over a decade of the Tile of Spain Awards

The Tile of Spain Awards, now in their twelfth year,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.

This latest edition is distinguished by the outstanding professional reputation of the panel of judges, chaired by the renowned architect Manuel Gallego, winner of the 2010 Gold Medal for Architecture awarded by the Superior Council of Colleges of Architects of Spain (CSCAE). Joining him on the panel were architects Ignacio García Pedrosa (Spain) and Francisco Freire (Portugal); Luca Molinari, a journalist specialising in design and architecture critical reviews; the designer Tomás Alonso; and Ramón Monfort, from the Castellón College of Architects.

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. The Awards are sponsored by Vodafone España and PortValencia.

More at: www.tileofspainawards.com

Roca Shanghai Gallery:

photo from Roca Shanghai Gallery

“4 in 1 house”:

photo : David Frutos

Casa Zinganshina:

photo : Jose Hevia

A university building and library extension:

photographs : C Martingaite

Casa Bitxo:

photo from architects

The extension of the Lisbon Aquarium:

photo : Radek Brunecky

11 Jul 2013

Tile of Spain Awards 2013

ASCER Tile of Spain Awards for Architecture and Interior Design 2013

OPEN CALL: 2013 TILE OF SPAIN AWARDS FOR ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN

The Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (ASCER) has now launched the twelfth edition of the competition that celebrates the innovative and creative use of Spanish ceramics in interior design and architecture around the globe

The prestigious German architect Matthias Sauerbruch will chair the jury

The total prize fund is 39,000 Euros 2012 Architecture prize: Catering College in a Former Abattoir, Medina Sidonia by Sol 89:

photo : Fernando Alda

The twelfth annual Tile of Spain Awards is now open for entries for the 2013 competition, welcoming project submissions from international architects, interior designers and students. Projects can be located anywhere in the world, but the key criteria for consideration is that a project must make significant use of Spanish ceramics in the formal part of the building – floor, wall or facade – and must have been completed between January 2011 and October 2013.

2005 Architecture prize: Spanish Aichi Expo Pavilion by Alejandro Zaera and Farshid Moussavi:

photo courtesy of ASCER

The 2013 Tile of Spain Awards offers a prize fund of 39,000 Euros divided into three categories: Architecture (17,000 Euros), Interior Design (17,000 Euros) and Student Degree Project (5,000 Euros). The jury may give a further two special mentions in each category.

2004 Architecture prize: The restoration of Santa Caterina Market, Barcelona by Enric Miralles y Benedetta:

photos courtesy of ASCER

For this edition, the jury chairman is the prominent German architect Matthias Sauerbruch, founding partner of Sauerbruch Hutton, with offices in Berlin and London. Other jury members include the Italian architect Luca Molinari, curator and producer of cultural events related to contemporary architecture, design and photography; the architect Manuel Gallego, Gold Medal of Architecture 2010 in Spain; the young designer Tomás Alonso, founding partner of OKAY Studio London; and Ramón Monfort of the Architects Association of Castellon, Spain.

In previous editions the competition jury comprised distinguished architects such as Juan Navarro Baldeweg, William J.R. Curtis, Terence Riley, Eduardo Souto de Moura, Carlos Ferrater, Luís Moreno Mansilla, Benedetta Tagliabue. 2009 Architecture prize: Benidorm Promenade by Carlos Ferrater and Xavier Martí – OAB:

photo : Aleix Bague

About the President of the Jury: Matthias Sauerbruch
Matthias Sauerbruch (1955 Constance, Germany) is a founding partner of Sauerbruch Hutton, an architecture practice with offices in Berlin and London, concerned with the creation of functional, sensual and conscientious architecture with individuality. The practice is noted for its synthesis of colour in the design process, and for the use of fluid curvilinear forms with the Brandhorst Museum (Munich) as prime example. Matthias Sauerbruch is among 7 international architects bestowed with the AIA Honorary Fellowship 2013 of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He is visiting professor at the Berlin University of the Arts, and visiting design critic at Harvard Graduate School of Design (EEUU).

Previous winners
In recent years the competition has awarded a wide range of projects, recognising the versatility of Spanish ceramics. Last year prizes went to a Catering School in a Former Abattoir by Sol 89 and to The Granada Teacher Training College by Ramon Fernandez – Alonso Borrajo. Awarded projects in the past include: MUCA Auditorium and Music House by Studio COR; Casa Collage in Girona by Bosch.Capdeferro; the Benidorm Promenade by OAB; the rehabilitation of the Santa Caterina Market in Barcelona by Miralles-Tagliabue; the Spanish Pavilion in Expo Zaragoza 2008 by Francisco Mangado and in the Aichi Expo in Japan 2005 by Alejandro Zaera and Farshid Moussavi.

Tile of Spain Awards – Past Winners

Tile of Spain Awards

Teacher Training College, Granada:

photo : Jesús Granada