2019 Tile of Spain Awards, Architecture-Interior Design Prize, Buildings Images

Winners of the 2019 Tile of Spain Awards – News

International Architectural Prizes – Building & Architect News

2 Mar 2020

PICHarchitects, 2BMFGG and José María Sánchez García win the first prizes in the annual competition for the creative use of ceramics in architecture and interior design

2019 Tile of Spain Awards

The Tile of Spain awards celebrate the imaginative use of Spanish ceramics in interior design and architecture. Now in its 18th edition, this prestigious global event is organised by ASCER, the Spanish ceramic tile manufacturers’ association, and is regarded a major event both in Spain and internationally, earning its winners a highly respected accolade.

Shown above: The Santa Creu & Sant Pau Hospital Research Centre in Barcelona; winner of the Architecture category. By PICHarchitects 2BMFG. Credit: Aldo Amoretti

Winners of the 2019 Tile of Spain Awards – PICHarchitects + 2BMFG Arquitectes

ARCHITECTURE
The winners in the Architecture category, with a cash award of 17,000 Euros, were PICHarchitects and 2BMFG Arquitectes whose permeable ceramic envelope on the Santa Creu & Sant Pau Hospital Research Centre in Barcelona blends innovatively with its structure. The jury highlighted the creative use of a ceramic material and the context in which it was used, establishing visual links between indoors and out and giving the building a chameleon-like outer appearance.

Top to bottom: special mentions in the Architecture category include Courtyard of the Brave & the New Parents’ Room by Elisa Valero and Edificio Tívoli by Martín Lejárraga Architects’ Studio. Credits: Fernando Alda and David Frutos

The jury decided to award two special mentions in the architecture category including Courtyard of the Brave & the New Parents’ Room by Elisa Valero. The project was commended for the surprising application that was given to a widespread common ceramic material by playing around with it and retransforming a small octagonal section of building. Local references, through a use of specific materials and shapes, are the keys to a project designed with ingenuity and economy of means.

A second special mention went to Edificio Tívoli by Martín Lejárraga Architects’ Studio. The refurbishment of a building into 22 apartments as well as commercial premises and parking areas impressed the judges for its clever utilisation of ceramic materials to create a sense of interplay between the existing building and a new one. In this project, colour and geometry act as a linking thread, signalling the refurbishment work done to the interiors and exteriors.

Shown above: Project for the waiting area of a bus station in Badajoz: winner of the Interior Design category. By José María Sánchez García. Credit: RN Fotógrafos

INTERIOR DESIGN
First prize in the Interior Design category, also attracting a cash prize of 17,000 Euros, went to a project for the waiting areas of a bus station in Badajoz by José María Sánchez García, where ceramic tiles alone meet all the requirements and more of coverings used in public spaces.

The judges applauded the elegance with which this project was brought to fruition through the design of the ceramic material. The key elements of this project are its geometrical shapes, attention to detail, construction and space, taking into account both the smallest of scales and the user experience.

Left to right and bottom: special mentions in the Interior Design category include ‘Vallirana 47’ by Vora Arquitectura and Camper Paseo de Gràcia by KKAA (Kengo Kuma/ Javier Villar Ruiz). Credit: Adrià Goula and Imagen Subliminal (Miguel Guzmán/ Rocío Romero)

The panel of judges also awarded two special mentions in the interior design category. “Vallirana 47” by Vora Arquitectura acted as ‘a palimpsest’, explained the jury, adding a further layer to a 20-year-old property and playing with the colour and material aspect of the different tiled floors. Interplay with geometrical shapes and the contrast with the new layout play a silent starring role in this delicate design project.

A second special mention went to Camper Paseo de Gràcia by KKAA. The project grabbed the judges’ attention for the striking ceramic material that was used as a star feature in the store, with a dual function as a display for products and a strong decorative element of the interior.

Shown above: ‘Memento Mori. The Presence of an Absence’; winner of Final Degree Project category. By Óscar Cruz García

FINAL DEGREE PROJECT
The award for the Final Degree Project, a category for architecture students, with a prize of 5,000 Euros, was given to Óscar Cruz García from Madrid School of Architecture (ETSAM) for ‘Memento Mori. The Presence of an Absence’. The jury highlighted the maturity and sensitivity of a project that was thoroughly illustrated and deeply felt. Attention to detail is the leitmotif of a sequence of spaces where nature, materials and atmospherics are all combined.

Shown above: Special mentions include Dance School by Alexey Agarkov from Moscow Architecture School and, far right, Barcelona Fabrica by Felipe Sancho Cervera from ETSAB.

In addition, two special mentions for the Final Degree Project were announced by the judging panel. Praise was given to Dance School by Alexey Agarkov from Moscow Architecture School for the project’s capacity to generate atmospheres and spaces characterised by their beauty and simplicity. Ceramic materials are used to contribute to the spaces’ architectural forms and to the quality of the light and materials.

A second special mention went to Barcelona Fabrica by Felipe Sancho Cervera from the ETSAB. The jury admired how a simple ceramic material was used to create intermediate spaces of huge complexity and spatial value. By making tiny modifications to the material’s geometry, position, colour and direction, added environmental value is brought to outdoor, intermediate and indoor spaces.

Winners of the 2019 Tile of Spain Awards Jury

THE JUDGES
Chaired by Jacob van Rijs (from MVRDV), the jury met at ASCER’s headquarters in late November to make its deliberations and also included Inês Lobo (from Inês Lobo Arquitectura), David Lorente (H Arquitectes), Eugeni Bach (Anna & Eugeni Bach), Héctor Ruiz Velázquez (Ruiz Velázquez Architecture & Design Team), Tomoko Sakamoto (Spread Editores), and Ramón Monfort (CTAC).

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 ceremony will be held on 4th February 2020 at Cevisama, the trade fair for ceramic tiles held in Valencia. For full details of the 2019 edition of the awards and previous editions, visit www.tileofspainawards.com

Winners of the 2019 Tile of Spain Awards images / information received 020320

Location: Spain

Spanish Architecture

European Architecture