Tile of Spain honors innovation

Celebrating its 13th edition, the Tile of Spain Awards recognized several projects in the categories of Architecture and Interior Design for their unique and creative approach

House in PrÃncipe Real — First Prize in the Architecture category was awarded to the project entitled “House in Príncipe Real,” which was designed by Vasco Correia and Patricia Sousa of Camarim Arquitectos Studio. The judges praised this project, highlighting in particular “the brilliant interpretation in the use of ceramic tiles in Lisbon’s historic quarter. The house, built on five floors, looks out onto the street — boasting a new textured take on the traditional ceramic tile facade.”

“Casa El Enroque” by Ángel Luis Rocamora was awarded a Special Mentions in the Architecture category. In this case, the judges expressed their appreciation of the “sensitive use of traditional ceramic tiles on the facades, combined with the openings that open up strategically as part of the restoration and extension of the existing building.”

“Casa Andamio” by bosch.capdeferro arquitectures also received a Special Mentions in the Architecture category. One of the features that the judges particularly appreciated was the highly intelligent approach to an intervention on an existing building, as well as the use of glazed ceramic tiles in various construction elements as a means of catalyzing specific plays of light within the transition spaces between the interiors and exteriors.

Restoration of the Cloister at BetxÃ Castle — First prize in the Interior Design category was awarded to the project entitled “Restoration of the Cloister at Betxí Castle” by El Fabricante de Espheras Studio. The judges remarked on the conceptual transformation of the interior space of the cloister through the inclusion of a large mirrored surface that forms a “virtual construction” of half of the lost Renaissance cloister. The work focuses on recovering the cloister space by including a traditional terracotta wall.

"Bodebo Store” by Jordi Calbetó and Oriol Vañó of CAVAA, received Special Mentions in the Interior Design category. In this case, the judges valued the “refreshing no-fuss intervention of the renewed interior, as well as the straightforwardness and efficiency in the use of the various ceramic tiles.”

“Restoration of the Administration Hall of the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site” by Joan Nogué Arbussa also was presented with Special Mentions in the Interior Design category. The judges praised the magnificent restoration work undertaken, highlighting in particular “its vocation to restore it to its original state, incorporating original ceramic tiles whilst also introducing a contemporary take on those sections for which there was no objective information.”

Tile of Spain, the international brand representing 125ceramic tilemanufacturers belonging to the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (ASCER), recently announced the winners of the 13th Annual Tile of Spain Awards in the categories of Architecture and Interior Design. Both the prestige of the panel of judges, and the standard of the winning projects, have earned these awards a consolidated reputation on the Spanish and international architecture scenes.

The panel of judges was chaired by architect Emilio Tuñón, founder, together with the late Luis Moreno Mansilla, of Mansilla + Tuñón Arquitectos Studio, winner of prestigious awards such as the Mies van der Rohe Award and the Spanish National Architecture Award. The panel of judges also included Italian architect Cino Zucchi; the executive director of the Pritzker Awards, Martha Thorne; architect Anupama Kundoo from India; architect José María Sánchez, who recently received the BSI Swiss Architectural Award for architects under 50 and whose work has contributed to improving the theory and practice of contemporary architecture; Fernando Márquez Cecilia, editor and director of El Croquis architecture journal; and the Castellón-born architect, Ramón Monfort.

The Tile of Spain Awards included two main categories, Architecture and Interior Design — each offering cash prizes of nearly $21,000. Additionally, there were two projects that received Special Mentions in each category. There was also a category for Final Degree Projects, which targeted students of architecture, with cash prizes of just over $6,000. The Awards are sponsored by Vodafone Spain, Endesa and PortValencia.