ceraspaña/18 - Tile of Spain
Transcription
ceraspaña/18 - Tile of Spain
CERASPAÑA/18 2007 / CERAMICS / ARCHITECTURE / DESIGN CERAMIC TILE IN HOTELS CUTTING EDGE SKIN COLOR BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO CERAMIC TILES CASA DECOR BARCELONA ‘07 CERASPAÑA/18 Editorial Ceramic tile equals versatility Ceramic tile equals versatility, not simply nowadays in terms of its functional applications in any public or private space, but also from an aesthetic point of view. This is one of the features that define it as a material and is, without a doubt, one of its greatest competitive advantages compared to other materials. Summary 02 EDITORIAL: CERAMIC TILE EQUALS VERSATILITY 03 COLOR BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO CERAMIC TILE 09 CEVISAMA AND QUALICER: TWO EVENTS THE CERAMIC TILE TRADE CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS 10 XAVIER CLARAMUNT GIVES MOVEMENT TO CERAMIC TILE AT CASA DECOR BARCELONA 2007 12 CUTTING EDGE SKIN 16 INTERVIEW: EDUARDO SOUTO DE MOURA 18 CERAMIC TILE IN ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS 21 SHOWROOM 28 SPANISH CERAMIC TILES ON A SAFE FOOTING 30 CERAMIC TILES IN HOTELS: WARM WELCOMES 34 NEWS AND EVENTS 35 READER SERVICES Thus, in this new issue of Ceraspaña, we will be looking at the new possibilities that ceramic tile is offering in terms of color. There is no other material on the market, in coverings, that affords such a huge range of colors. This lends ceramic tile enormously versatility for use outside its usual contexts, which in turn opens up infinite possibilities. See the “Ceramic tiles in motion” installation by Xavier Claramunt at Casa Decor Barcelona 2007 and judge for yourselves. Equally and in addition to this bounty, ceramic tile offers countless virtues from the functional point of view. Another of the articles in this issue looks at the Civic and Social Center in Ártica, the work of prestigious architects Miguel Ayape and Andrés Martínez, who chose ceramic tile for their building. Why? Because of the energy savings to be gained from using large format porcelain tiles on the building’s ventilated façades. Along similar lines, we also take a look at the efforts that manufacturers invest in order to make products that fulfill all the consumer’s demands as regards to quality and safety. One of the specific areas that is wide open in the field of R&D in the ceramic tile industry, is research to devise products that will deliver guaranteed anti-slip properties. All the faces of the multi-faceted product that is ceramic tile are covered in this new issue of Ceraspaña. We hope you enjoy it. ISSUE 18 · 2007 EDITED BY ASCER Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association C/ Ginjols, 3 · 12003 Castellón · Spain Tel. +34 964 727 200 · Fax +34 964 727 212 global@ascer.es · http://spaintiles.info Ceraspaña is a free newsletter distributed by ASCER. PUBLISHED BY Iberamic Inc. DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Plató SPONSORED BY ICEX, Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade 2 Front cover photograph: Casa Decor Barcelona 2007 CERASPAÑA/18 COLOR BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO CERAMIC TILES The new aesthetic trends, in which color is re-emerging with a vital force, typical of nature itself – which in turn is imbuing these trends with its shapes and its essence – reinforce ceramic tile as a star player in the latest designs of spaces and environments. There is an infinite range of color palettes along with passion, voluptuousness and a trend towards harmony. These are the new offerings from ceramic tiles that, when used with unbridled imagination, can transform any space into a personal habitat. Turn to page 4... The wealth of colors that ceramic tiles offer is unique in the coverings market. Vitro series, Ceracasa 3 CERASPAÑA/18 oday Spanish ceramic tiles are witnessing a veritable explosion of color as an essential ingredient in the design of spaces and as a cornerstone of architecture and interior design. Ceramic tiles are at the leading edge of the latest trends, which are showing a return to forgotten colors and a multiplicity of choices in color palettes. T CERAMIC TILES ARE DRESSING NEW SPACES WITH FASHION IN A GREAT RANGE OF COLOR PALETTES THAT MAKE IT EASY TO CREATE A PERSONALIZED ENVIRONMENT Key to this resurgence of color in ceramic tiles is personalization. Now more than ever the customer or end user has the last word and manufacturers are offering a vast array of choices which means that the final result depends on the wishes of the person who is buying the style or series of ceramic tile. There are as many needs to satisfy consumers as there are different tastes and this is reflected in the extensive range of colors offered, which the main ceramic tile manufacturers hope will be able to provide the right solution in each instance. Logos series, Equipe Cerámicas 4 Extreme minimalism, with its predominance of shades of white and black and its neutral color palette, has now been left behind. This “essentialist” style, that made few concessions to color, has given way to new designs, to a repertory of graphics that break the mould, inspired by natural vegetation, with a profusion of flowers, ornaments and details. CERASPAÑA/18 Prisma collection, Togama. Melodía de la Natura (Melody from Nature) series, Monte Allegro with Pop Monte décor by Marazzi España A whole repertoire is thus emerging that could be described as functional-bucolic and has clearly been inspired by vivid, intense nature. Nature is not just being interpreted but, often, an attempt is being made to evoke a real sense of it. Ceramic tiles are trying to capture the colors and graphic shapes of nature, the way it changes visually and also a rhythm that is apparent in the compositions of the current styles. There has, accordingly, been an explosion of greens in both exterior and interior spaces and these are being used without inhibitions but, rather, with limitless freedom and imagination. Ceramic tile fits this mood perfectly, complementing the spaces, adding value and enhancing the space overall. The versatility of ceramic tiles affords the designer the opportunity to personalize rooms and surfaces Turn to page 6... 5 CERASPAÑA/18 by using hundreds of possible combinations and making a great feature of color. Ceramic tiles can always be found to fit the most demanding requirements. Shades of green, blue and orange are appearing now, looking as if they have been pulled out of a trunk and dusted down. They are not exactly pure colors but have all the intensity of pure colors. No ideas are dismissed and 6 everything considered in an attempt to help the end user of the tile product make a choice between the infinite possibilities and many different color palettes (and there can be as many as ten) of a given series. The most acid, bright and saturated colors are still in evidence but are giving way to lighter colors and pastel finishes. Excessive contrasts are on the way out and in their place is a rising trend that pursues chromatic harmony. Combinations such as yellows and oranges, pinks and reds or blues and purples are becoming increasingly popular and are all finding their way onto ceramic tiles. In spite of this, ceramic tiles – as a substantial element of architecture and interior design – are still being made in all colors and styles. They are also taking on board other trends that are emerging at the moment as part of CERASPAÑA/18 this resurgence of color, such as the trend towards excessive passion – also referred to as voluptuousness – which is defined by its being opposite to classical elegance. Evoking sensations and stirring emotions is of prime importance. The triumph of color applied to ceramic plays a key part here along with highly worked and ornamented noble materials and the renewed taste for the most baroque craft-work possible. Trends have thus gone THE USE OF PASTEL SHADES AND THE PURSUIT OF CHROMATIC HARMONY ARE THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE RESURGENCE OF COLORISM Infant and Primary Education Center in Polinyà (Spain) All the colors of the rainbow can be reproduced in ceramic tiles, both for interiors or exterior uses. from one extreme to another, from the purest minimalism to the theatrical, creating a fantasy that is breath-taking and full of impact, raising the most common space to a sublime level. Current design is thus seeking to use color and ceramic tile to stimulate memories of places experienced only in dreams. None who comes across spaces thus created can remain indifferent to them as they have been conceived for precisely this purpose, to stir the emotions and awaken the fantasies and the sense of freedom that brought them into being. Look series, Natucer It is not only the full range of color palettes that is important to this search. Elements that add expression and modernity are also important such as the interpretation of techniques taken from the world of comics, graffiti, collage, digital printing of images directly onto ceramic tiles and the many different applications of decorative brush strokes. Ceramic tiles are thus becoming a means of helping spread and expand the use of color therapy for enhancing wellbeing and health. It is possible through careful choice of palettes to create, in specific spaces, an atmosphere conducive to treating certain ailments naturally. It has been proven in this respect that colors are no more than reflections of light that our brain gives form to, through the receptors in our eyes. They travel as waves of different lengths, at different rhythms and at different speeds depending on their color and they have a physical, psychological and emotional effect on people. The ancient Chinese, Indian and Greek cultures were the first to discover the influence of color and they too applied chromatic variety to ceramic. Today, just as it happened yesterday, the West is looking to the East to Turn to page 8... 7 CERASPAÑA/18 find traditional and natural remedies for the diseases caused by stress and the civilized world. So it is that warm colors such as orange, yellow and red project optimism, vitality and strength and are proven stimulants. Colors held to be cold such as green, blue and violet are relaxing and the spaces colored with ceramic tiles in these hues create a sensation of peace and wellbeing and are a good antidote to anxiety. Talking about fashion in ceramic tiles means talking about color, health, infinite choices and personalization. All power to imagination! Rainbow series, Roca Cerámica 8 Joy series, Alaplana Cerámica Blanco-Rojo (White-Red) series, Recercasa CERASPAÑA/18 CEVISAMA: THE FIRST TO SHOW THE LATEST The best possible exhibition of ceramic tiles for use in architecture and interior design is being complemented by the CEVISAMA Indi program of displays, competitions, awards and lectures that will reflect trends and cutting edge design. CEVISAMA Indi will be presenting the 2.1 version of the Trans/hitos display. Subtitled “Nómadas” (“Nomads”) this is a new phase for the exposition based on cooperation, sharing knowledge and experiences experienced in different projects. Indi will also be featuring international design competitions for ceramic tiles for use in architecture and bathroom furnishings, the Architecture and Design Forum and the Alfa de Oro Awards, given in recognition to companies for achievements in innovation. The tile installers’ meeting and Bluespace, the new exhibit centered on the new bathroom culture, complete the program. he 26th edition of CEVISAMA is set to take place from February 5-9, 2008. The fair is being refreshed with new initiatives designed to satisfy the many different demands. More than 1200 exhibitors from around the world will be showing their latest products; those arriving in the near future and the designs which we will imminently develop. T The upcoming CEVISAMA also features “Cerámica innova” (“Ceramic tile innovates”). The initiative coincides with the Machinery Show and will focus specifically on the latest technological innovations in ceramic tile machinery and production processes for the product itself and its applications. The event will also cover environmental and energy issues QUALICER 2008: XTH WORLD CONGRESS ON QUALITY IN CERAMIC WALL AND FLOOR TILES he forthcoming QUALICER, which takes place February 10-13, 2008, will be offering a retrospective on the 9 congresses that have been held previously. These have been dynamic events which have served to add experience to the congress and to broaden its horizons. QUALICER’s 10th anniversary comes 18 years after the first congress was first held in 1990. Since those early years it was obvious that the congress would make an impact of unprecedented success for an event dedicated to ceramic tile coverings. The years have proven that QUALICER is more alive now than ever before. T Lectures and round table debates Four round table debates will add content to a technical program that is stronger every year and promises a memorable anniversary. The subjects that leading professionals will be debating are: “Innovation, Design, Technology and Marketing”, “Ceramic Tile and the Environment: a potential strategy for the ceramic tile industry”, “Rising to the challenge of the ceramic tile market in the United States and beyond” and the central issue of debate, “The efforts to overcome recurrent challenges: Qualicer 1990 – 2008” Detail information on QUALICER 2008 can be viewed at www.qualicer.org 9 CERASPAÑA/18 XAVIER CLARAMUNT GIVES MOVEMENT TO CERAMIC TILES AT CASA DECOR BARCELONA 2007 The architect astonishes visitors at Casa Decor Barcelona with an undulating structure made movable thanks to innovative applications of robotics. Successful use of lighting adds a highly evocative aspect to the installation. CAD’07 Casa Decor 10 CERASPAÑA/18 eramic tile in motion. This apparent contradiction is at once the title and the leitmotif of the space created by Xavier Claramunt at Casa Decor Barcelona 2007. Ceramic tile and movement may be opposite concepts but in this installation they combine to create a stunning, ground-breaking space. Claramunt has managed to give movement to the tiles in this space by using latest generation applications of robotics. C A GROUND-BREAKING, INSTALLATION HIGHLY What Claramunt set out to do in this project was to express the versatility of ceramic tiles. Setting ceramic tiles in a moving structure is a blatant assertion regarding the product’s versatility and is a perfect example of how ceramic tile can “move and adapt” to different shapes and surfaces without losing a single iota of its value and visual appeal. As Claramunt himself points out, “it has a thousand faces, none of which needs even a millimeter of cosmetic surgery.” The “Ceramic tiles in motion” space created by Xavier Claramunt exclusively for ASCER was extremely well received by visitors attending Casa Decor and was also given substantial coverage in the market press EVOCATIVE “Ceramic tiles in motion” is an enveloping, undulating structure made from small ceramic tiles, that sways gently. The piece marries ceramic tiles, oscillating movement and light, creating from this marriage an absolutely fascinating, thought provoking space. CAD’07 Casa Decor CAD’07 Casa Decor CAD’07 Casa Decor A CUTTING EDGE ARCHITECT XAVIER CLARAMUNT, WHO CREATED THE CERAMIC TILE SPACE AT CASA DECOR BARCELONA 2007, IS ONE OF SPAIN’S BEST KNOWN ARCHITECTS. THE STUDIO WHERE HE WORKS UNDERTAKES ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR DESIGN AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGN PROJECTS. CLARAMUNT HAS WON PRESTIGIOUS PRIZES SUCH AS THE “CONTRACT WORLD AWARD 2007” AND HAS ALSO BEEN A FINALIST FOR OTHERS SUCH AS THE FAD AWARDS. THE CATALAN ARCHITECT HAS ALSO DESIGNED JEWELLERY FOR TIFFANY & CO IN NEW YORK AND DUCHCLARAMUNT IN BARCELONA. ONE OF HIS MOST AUDACIOUS PROJECTS IS THE SPACE HOTEL HE IS DESIGNING WHICH HE WANTS TO OPEN IN 2012. 11 CERASPAÑA/18 CUTTING EDGE SKIN Spanish ceramic tiles have been chosen by two of today’s leading architects to create a pure, elegant covering for one of the most modern creations in Navarra, the Artica civic and social center near Pamplona. The large format porcelain tiles that have been applied to the ventilated façades have made this jewel of architectural design a veritable aesthetic and functional landmark. Looks and function are mirrored perfectly in the essence and character of the material that envelops and enhances the building, captivating all who see it. 12 CERASPAÑA/18 odern architecture’s greatest ally is Spanish ceramic tile. The most prestigious professionals, great creators of emblematic spaces, choose this material to dress their buildings both inside and out in a skin that is a perfect combination of inherent and unalterable functional properties and the style of a look able to satisfy the most demanding taste. This is why ceramic tile gleams on the interior and exterior walls of the Artica Civic Centre, a new building that is intended to become the cultural and social hub of the township of Berrioplano, just by Pamplona (Navarra) and has since the day it opened been perceived as a beacon of cutting edge aesthetics. M The work of prestigious architects Miguel Ayape and Andrés Martínez, the Arica Civic Centre has been clad with ceramic tile on three of its four exterior walls (those facing south, east and west), while the main façade, which gives way onto a large public square on the north side, has been covered in glass. The architects chose a product by Saloni, the Efir series designed by Francesc Rifé, which consists of large format (18” x 36”) white porcelain tiles. The tiles create a stunning visual impact and lend a modern, luminous air to this space that is intended to be a center for social life available to all and has already, from the moment it was built, become a major architectural landmark not just for its users but for all who see it. The Artica Civic Centre was built by HM Compañía General de Construcción S.A. and is located next to the old Cerrioplano Fort, on the edge of the town. It stands impressively, surrounded by holm oaks and cereal crops, in an exceptional enclave at the foot of the Ezkaba mountains opposite the town. The architectural solution for fixing the tiles was a ventilated façade because a mixed application fixing system (which remains unseen) could be used which combines chemical fixing with size and cement and mechanical fastenings. The mechanical part of the fixing is achieved by making two parallel slots down the back of the covering sheets and then attaching aluminium fasteners to each of THE LARGE FORMAT, 18X36 INCHES PORCELAIN TILES, ADD A STRIPED, UNEVEN TEXTURE AND A SUBTLE RELIEF TO THE PURITY OF THE WHITE More and more architects are choosing large format ceramic tiles for their most spectacular projects. them to improve the safety and stability of the fastenings. The combination of the tension of the fastening on the tile and the system’s own mechanics avoids the possibility of the tiles breaking because of their great size. Using a ceramic tile ventilated façade means that the building is insulated and prevents the temperature inside rising too high because of excessive sun in the summer, or falling too low because of the inclement weather that prevails at these latitudes during the winter months. Ventilated façades made of ceramic tile avoid these problems by creating an inner insulating chamber between the visible façade and the wall on which the tiles are hung. This creates a flow of rising warm air that dissipates the heat, in a “chimney effect”, during the most stiflingly hot months and helps keep the inside of the building warm when the mercury drops below 59 degrees, thereby reducing the energy spent on artificial air conditioning. Turn to page 14... CERASPAÑA/18 The interior façade of the building has also been clad with porcelain tiles, which were fixed here using a cement adhesive. Architects Ayape and Martínez also chose Saloni tiles for a fourth interior façade, fixing the Efir tiles here by the traditional method of size and cement adhesive. With 25,000 square feet of floor space spread over a basement and three other floors, the new Artica centre offers the people of Barrioplano a total of six multifunctional rooms that can be used for ongoing courses and hobby and leisure workshops. There is also a function room that can accommodate 244 people and can also be used for theatrical or musical performances as a stage can be erected and stage machinery, lighting and sound equipment can be installed and controlled from dedicated booths. There are also two dressing rooms, meeting rooms, 14 THE FIXING SYSTEM USED ON THE VENTILATED FAÇADE COMBINES TENSION AND MECHANICS TO AVOID THE POSSIBILITY OF THE TILES BREAKING BECAUSE OF THEIR GREAT SIZE exhibition rooms, a ballroom, a library, a café and a kitchen. A car park with space for 65 vehicles has been provided also. The entire project cost around 2.5 million euros. The new building leaps out of its surroundings like the firm, vigorous and brilliant brush strokes of a painter. Straight lines and flat surfaces in ceramic tile, edges that break up empty spaces and suggestive curves make this creation a total pleasure to visit. This is a modern, attractive volume with a magical design that takes the quality of the ceramic tiles that envelop and enhance it to a whole CERASPAÑA/18 Color and texture on a grand scale The ceramic tiles used as the skin for this particular architectural space are available in four medium and large formats. The one chosen for the Artica Civic Centre was the largest (18”x36”), and the others measure 12”X12” 12”X23” and 23”x23”. The main features of the product cladding this emblematic building near Pamplona are its texture and surface. With their uneven surface and subtle relief, these porcelain tiles add a soft decorative stripe to the pure color, giving the ceramic character and personality. The porcelain tiles used were originally designed for tiling bathrooms and interior spaces, but their versatility is demonstrated quite clearly here, applied as they have been to an outside façade to dress one of the most important civic and cultural centers in Navarra. One of the advantages of using ceramic tiles for ventilated façades is the significant energy savings. new level. The content and purpose of this building were a challenge for its designers and those who commissioned it: to provide culture and energize a growing population that could top 5000 in ten years, not just in the Artica district but also in Mogotes and Rochapea. The House of Culture, which occupies a major part of the building (20,200 square feet) has been dedicated to pioneer and revolutionary in the promotion of education, María de Maeztu, and, like her, it has a mission to shape education. It is already a marvel of design. Tradition and modernity are two values that go hand in hand and also define contemporary Spanish ceramic tiles, which are seen yet again here to be the epitome of brilliance 15 Interview Would it be fair to say that you are a Portuguese architect with a universal aspiration? Architects should have universal aspirations but adapt the scale of their ambitions to the nature of the problem or the requirements they are having to contend with, since the recipes cannot be the same. Architecture has its own universal laws because it is a universal discipline like medicine. Without these laws there would be no explanation, for example, for the fact that the Romans built Greek temples in Portugal, Turkey and Tunisia. You are thought of as a master of understanding and using different materials. Where does ceramic tile stand? Ceramic tile is one of the materials that are used for building. I think there should be no differentiation between noble and other materials because, for the sake of example, plastic is no worse than marble. Everything depends on how it is used. Architecture sets out to solve problems and the right means and methods have to be found for each situation. 16 EDUARDO SOUTO DE MOURA Chairman of the VIth Ceramic Tile Awards Jury “ “ Eduardo Souto de Moura is a name synonymous with architecture today. Born in Oporto, Portugal, on July 25, 1952, Souto has designed such emblematic public spaces in his own country as the stadium and market in Braga and underground stations in Oporto, as well as private residences for the famous. He has also worked on projects to restore ancient and historical buildings that are part of Portugal’s national heritage. Souto has worked primarily in Portugal but in recent years has also undertaken projects abroad. At the age of 55 – at the height of his professional career and with many years of success and recognition behind him – he has been chosen to chair the jury for the Ceramic Tiles in Architecture and Interior Design Awards competition, which is being run by the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers´ Association, ASCER, for the sixth time. CERAMIC TILE SHOULD BE USED FOR ITS INTRINSIC PROPERTIES, PRESERVING ITS FULL DIGNITY CERASPAÑA/18 Interview Intelligence will produce the solution to fit the challenge. There are many situations in which ceramic tile can be that solution and yet others where it is the only solution. For example... In state-subsidized housing projects, where you have to give a great deal of thought to the preservation of the building, because ceramic tile is a material that performs very well, is highly resistant and remains unaltered by the passage of time. It is also ideal in those situations and places where advanced technology is not available and where ceramic tile, as an easy to handle material, needs no great know-how to install. Do you use ceramic tile in your projects? I have done in recent years. Before, I used to favor more natural materials such as stone, but ceramic tile has proved to be a great solution for construction and gives very good results. What is the key to a good architectural result using ceramic tile? In the first place, you need to understand the material very well, but also the coherence of the construction system and the language you want to convey. If any of the three sides of this triangle fails, a project can fall apart. This is one of the few rules of architecture that work. I think that you have to use ceramic tile for the dignity of its function, looking to its intrinsic properties, not use it as a representation of something. One of the great ills of architecture today is that everything is simulated: laminates take the place of wood and faceted strips mimic stone. You have to make full use of all of ceramic tile’s capabilities, from its strength and resistance as a base for building upon to its strong colors as a decorative tool. “THE MARKET NEEDS NEW CERAMIC TILE PRODUCTS AND INNOVATION NEEDS TO DELIVER SOLUTIONS, SUCH AS A FEATURE THAT WOULD INTEGRATE THERMAL INSULATION PROPERTIES AND THEREFORE SAVE SEVERAL STEPS IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS” A building that uses more ceramic tiles is no better than a building where ceramic tile is used in better ways even if it is less visible and more subdued. What do you think of Spanish architecture and architects? In Spain average quality is higher than anywhere else in Europe, which is down to the high level of training in schools of architecture. There are no schools anywhere in Europe that are as good as the Spanish ones, where architects are required to train for longer and with a greater degree of specialization in subjects such as engineering, which in other countries is quite separate to architecture. There is considerable continuity between the project and its realization, thinking and doing. Spanish architects never do anything that goes against nature. Do you think that ceramic tiles are fashionable amongst architects? Ceramic tiles have never gone out of fashion. From the Mesopotamian civilization to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, my favorite architect, people have worked with ceramic tile. The material still has a brilliant future ahead of it, especially where it is being led by research. The market needs new ceramic tile products. Innovation must, for example, deliver ceramic Eduardo Souto de Moura chaired the jury for the VIth Ceramic Tile Awards. tile solutions that feature its intrinsic thermal insulation, which saves a number of steps in the construction process and, because of the material’s make-up and characteristics, repels the heat of the summer and protects from the cold in winter. In any event and whatever the circumstances, ceramic tile will never become obsolete because it is easy to handle, is useful in all sorts of situations and can provide all kinds of solutions. Some people see the mark of a Portuguese school in your work, and that you share the same aesthetics and identifying features as Álvaro Siza or Fernando Távora. How do you view yourself? I am an architect, Portuguese because I am Portuguese and I live there and that is part of my culture. That does not mean that I consider myself to be a local architect. I do, rather, see myself as a universal architect and I am concerned about global issues. As to whether there is a Portuguese or, more specifically an Oporto school, I cannot tell because, as that is where I come from, I am too close to be able to see that. There may well be common identities between architects that would mean that in Spain, for instance, you could identify a Madrid or a Catalan school. How would you define the ideal architectural space? This is something I have been asked to do for an exhibition in Rome where I am being given an empty room that has to be structured with this ideal space. This can be done in two totally different ways: from a more banal perspective and starting from the premise that there are no absolute concepts – there is no happiness, just small joys, no love but, instead, loves; no friendship, but friendships – in my ideal space I would have the things I like, in other words music, books and the people I like. There can also be an ideal space that is immaterial, which is another, more abstract point of view, with colors and sensations of hot and cold. I would tend to favor the first solution because there is no ideal space, just ideal spaces in which people feel good 17 CERASPAÑA/18 JOSÉ DURÁN AND THE ENTRESITIO STUDIO WIN THE VI CERAMIC TILE IN ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS THE Ceramic Tile in Architecture and Interior Design Awards have become increasingly highly regarded and more widely accepted by professionals and architecture students every year. The competition is now in its sixth year and reached a milestone by becoming the most hotly contested competition yet, with double the number of projects entered. Nearly a hundred projects aspired to carry off the first prize in one of the three categories: architecture, interior design and degree projects. ‘Color Revolution’project by José Durán, Architecture category winner. 18 CERASPAÑA/18 ‘San Blas Municipal Health Centre (Madrid)’ by the Entresitio studio, winner of the Interior Design category. n November 30 just past the jury judging, the VI Ceramic Tile in Architecture and Interior Design Awards decided unanimously to award first prize in the architecture category of the competition to “Color Revolution”, a project by José Durán Fernández. Chaired by prestigious architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, “The jury is impressed that with just two materials – color and ceramic tile – the architect has given the street a new urban identity.” The project involved a re-design of San Vicente Street in Burriana (Castellón), in which ceramic tiles were the star feature, their brightness and colors used to create the paving that, in turn, creates a very unusual image for this traditional city center street. O Ceramic tiles act as a mirror, bringing light into the interior. JURY AWARDS PRIZE FOR FIRST TIME TO AN URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT USING CERAMIC TILE In this project Durán has made a commitment to using ceramic tile as a material for exteriors, choosing extruded glazed stoneware ceramic blocks to create the street’s paving. The use of colored paving blocks and supplemental lighting does indeed achieve the colorful effect that Durán was seeking to achieve in this project. First prize in the interior design category was awarded unanimously to the “San Blas Municipal Health Center (Madrid)” by María Hurtado de Mendoza Wahrolén, César Jiménez The color of the ceramic tiles gives new life to the fabric of the city centre de Tejada Benavides and José María Hurtado de Mendoza Wahrolén at the Entresitio studio. The jury gave the award on the basis of “coherence in the use of materials outside and inside, including ceramic tile as a mirror to reflect the light through patios and skylights.” Turn to page 20... CERASPAÑA/18 España and Port of Valencia. Its purpose is to promote and give a sense of prestige to the use of ceramic tiles in architecture and interior design. The Ceramic Tile Awards also include a category designed to recognize the best Degree Project by a student from a School of Architecture either in Spain or abroad, that makes significant use of ceramic tile. This sixth competition received the highest number of entries since its inception. Around 100 projects were entered for the three categories of the VI Ceramic Tile Awards, reflecting the growing popularity of this yearly challenge to architects and interior designers. The jury elected to award first prize to the “C_DAC Contemporary Architecture Documentation Center” by architecture student Sergio Bruns Banegas. The jury was particularly struck by “the fact that the urban setting determined the project’s strategy, in which ceramic tile is used in a way that is consistent with its urban setting. The project’s inventiveness and daring was also highly valued.” ‘Palencia Law Courts’, by Isabel García Vázquez, Honorary Mention. As well as the first prize the jury also decided to award an Honorary Mention to the “Palencia Law Courts” project by Isabel García Vázquez. The main feature of this project, the jury pointed out, is that it is “a disquieting assemblage of boxes where the quality of the ceramic tiles and the light guide the viewer and give order to the labyrinth.” The jury judging this VI Ceramic Tile Awards competition included top-ranking architects and was chaired by distinguished Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura. The chairman was joined by leading architects including Rafael de La-Hoz; Jacob Van Rijs of the MVRDV studio in Holland; Felipe PichAguilera of Pich Architects; Canary Islander Fernando Menis; Catalan architect Mercé Berengué, of Roldán+Berengué; and Ramón Monfort, president of the Castellón Association of Architects As well as the recognition implicit in these awards, the winners of the Architecture and Interior Design categories also receive 20,000 euros each. The Degree Projects category prize winner takes home 10,000 euros. The competition is made possible thanks to sponsorship from Gas Natural, Vodaphone ‘Contemporary Architecture Documentation Centre in Valencia’ by Sergio Bruns Banegas, winner of the Degree Projects category. 20 The jury gave its verdict after considering almost 100 projects. GRESPANIA · HELSINKI SERIES SHOWROOM // LAST TRENDS CERASPAÑA/18 Showroom AZTECA CERÁMICA DECORADO TAPIZ 1 SERIES AND TRIP GRAPHITE SERIES comercial@aztecaceramica.com · www.aztecaceramica.com IBEROCERÁMICA ARIA SERIES – ARIA PORCELÁNICO, FULL-BODY COLLECTION ibero@iberoceramica.com · www.iberoceramica.com EL BARCO AZULIBER – PORCELIBER FUTURA SERIES - TEXTURAS COLLECTION elbarco@elbarco.com · www.elbarco.com ARGENTE SERIES azuliber@azuliber.com · www.azuliber.com 22 Showroom CERASPAÑA/18 CRISTACER HISPANO AZUL GÓTICO SERIES cristal@cristalceramicas.com · www.cristalceramicas.com STERLING SERIES-COLLECTION export@hispanoazul.com · www.hispanoazul.com AZULEV ELEMENTS COLLECTION azulev@azulev.es · www.azulev.com 23 CERASPAÑA/18 Showroom DUALGRES AURORA SERIES – TITANIO COLLECTION general@dualgres.com · www.dualgres.com VENUS CERÁMICA CURELU 20X50 CM. SERIES info@venus.es · www.venusceramica.com TRES ESTILOS ECOLOGY OCEAN SERIES – ECOLOGY COLLECTION comercial@tresestilos.com · www.tresestilos.com 24 Showroom CERASPAÑA/18 GRES CID METROPOLITAN SERIES info@grescid.com · www.grescid.com A & M CERÁMICA RECERCASA NORDICA SERIES azulindus@azulindusymarti.com · www.azulindusymarti.com ANTIGA SERIES ventas@recercasa.es · www.recercasa.com 25 CERASPAÑA/18 Showroom FANAL CERÁMICAS GRES RÚSTICO EXTRUSIONADO – HISPAGREX DREAMS SERIES fanal@fanal.com · www.fanal.com COTTO SERIES hispagrex@hispagrex.es · www.hispagrex.es TECNICERAMICA ZEBRANO SERIES tecniceramica@tecniceramica.es www.tecniceramica.es 26 Showroom CERASPAÑA/18 GLASS CERÁMICA ARQUITECTURA SERIES glassceramica@glassceramica.es www.glassceramica.es CERÁMICAS L’ALCALATEN CONSTELACIÓN SERIES exportacion@alcalaten.com · www.alcalaten.com REAL CERÁMICA SCABOS-SCABOS ANTIDESLIZANTE SERIES realcer@realceramica.com · www.realceramica.com 27 CERASPAÑA/18 SPANISH CERAMIC TILES ON A SAFE FOOTING Concept Series, Alcalagres Avoid slipping can be crucial in certain circumstances. A bad fall, a misplaced foot, a skid or simply a mark on the pavement can make us slip and incur a fracture, break, lesion or another form of injury than we dare imagine. Spain’s ceramic tile manufacturers are aware of the benefits that their products add to the quality of life of millions of people and have managed to provide an excellent response to the demand for safer flooring. This has been achieved as a result of their investment in R&D, which has been geared to avoiding the enormous physical and financial costs of such accidents. Spanish ceramic tile manufacturers are very aware of the growing concern in floor safety and consequently they have expanded their slip-resistant lines. 28 CERASPAÑA/18 applied to one side in sprig-like lines or straight grooves. The aim of these is to hold the shoe better, make the tile easier to clean and liquid easier to drain off and avoid residue build-up -although these latter will always find a way of filing up any empty spaces created. Nonetheless, floor tiles with relief neither slow pedestrian down nor afford resistance to heavy traffic. Centre Nautique Intercommunal Saint Affrique (France). Rosagres, Aqua series. afety has become a pre-requisite in an increasingly changing environment where human and goods traffic is growing at a vertiginous rate. This is where, once again, ceramic tiles come into their own with their multiple applications, versatility and facility for adapting to all circumstances. They are one of the most complete materials, offering effective solutions for the highest requirements. S Investment in R&D has enabled manufacturers to find various formulae for making ceramic floor tiles slip-resistant without losing one iota of their aesthetic or functional qualities. Outdoor public spaces exposed to harsh weather, changes in the weather and different kinds of precipitation, high traffic areas, pavements, parks, avenues, water parks, hotels, shopping centers, swimming pools, gymnasiums, hospitals, recreational areas, staircases, ramps and an infinite number of other locations have been covered with slip-resistant ceramic tiles to prevent injury and improve users’ lives, thereby contibuting to the wellbeing of millions of people around the world. Equally, interior spaces such as care homes for senior citizens, public toilets and baths need greater adherence in order to avoid users having accidents. Therefore there is need to have the right kind of flooring to prevent unfortunate falls. THE INVESTMENT IN R&D OF THE CERAMIC TILE INDUSTRY IN SPAIN HAS ENABLED US TO LAUNCH SEVERAL MARKET STRATEGIES TO SOLVE AND GUARANTEE ANTI-SLIP INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES or a high traffic area. The floor should also be aesthetically pleasing and have dynamic qualities. For those who devote themselves to developing new ceramic tile products, the search for solutions that are increasingly high specification and satisfying in this regard, is vital. Years ago, the first slip-resistant floor tiles were the most difficult to clean and maintain, but this is no longer the case as they have been superseded by the new advances. SOLUTIONS FOR ALL All these surfaces are required to be cleaned constantly and this process must be – i.e. resistant to chemical products and solvents – especially if the floor is in a health care facility The ceramic tile industry has found different ways of making their products slip-resistant. One of these is to add relief, which can be Another way of making slip-resistant ceramic flooring is to use a laser. Thanks to this powerful ray it is now possible to create microscopic cavities on the surface of polished porcelain stoneware tiles. This process does not alter tile quality and design and allows the user to pick among the wide array of series, colors and finishes. A different approach to develop anti-slip tile is to create a thin, rough surface on top of the finish. This formula adds an extra step in the production line without altering the original product characteristics which will be maintained intact and will not take away any aesthetics such as color, shine or texture. All these initiatives are testament that the Spanish ceramic tile industry invests in R&D to achieve advances in the slip-resistant market with the aim to keep intact the aesthetics and dynamics of the materials, without altering colors, textures, finishes while solving problems such as cleaning and maintenance of these surfaces while at the same time creating a comfortable environment 29 CERASPAÑA/18 Hallway in the H10 Princess Hotel in Salou, Land Porcelánico. CERAMIC TILE IN HOTELS: WARM WELCOME Being away from home involves discovering a new world of sensations. Some people when traveling, do not want to sacrifice the comforts of their own home. Others prefer to be carried away by the different and the exotic. For most, hotels are usually the first point of contact with the new destination. There is nothing better than to try to ensure that the first impression is a good one. Ceramic tile plays a role in this first impression. In common spaces it can be used to welcome people aesthetically, with a warm and inviting sensibility. 30 CERASPAÑA/18 Exterior cladding of the Tryp Zaragoza Hotel, Cerámicas Casao. hen it comes to choosing a hotel service, location and facilities are the three key features that will steer people towards a specific choice. The fourth feature is comfort. It is the synthesis of first three features but with the added value of having chosen the right materials to provide maximum warmth and convenience. W If warmth is what is wanted, ceramic tile is a good option due to the wide variety o f hue finishes that can be achieved. If functionality is what is desired, then ceramic tile is again a good choice because it maximizes the efficiency of space and volume. If looks are the priority, ceramic tile is also the best material to specify because of the vast array of textures, formats and styles that are available and that enable any kind of setting TEXTURES, SHAPES AND SHADES OF COLOR CAN BE USED TO PERSONALIZE ANY SPACE, STARTING WITH THE NEW RANGES OF WALL TILE THAT CAN TRANSFORM A SPACE INTO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DESIGN to be reproduced. A final reason, if the plan is to mix a combination of building materials, then using ceramic tile is a wonderful option because it works well with many other structural materials. In many new or recently renovated hotels, we can find trend setting, significant examples of how to create genuine surroundings with ceramic tile. Tiles laid on floors and walls can make the space look longer and create unity on both the horizontal and the vertical planes. For hotels, ceramic tiles can also be the most practical and durable material option. Those who choose it, can say goodbye to cleaning problems linked to other materials such as porosity as well as feel confident in its longlasting quality. 31 CERASPAÑA/18 Another of the usual reasons for using ceramic tiles in hotels is their ability to blend easily with other materials being specified, generally, they mix well with everything. Exteriors are a good case in point. Exteriors ranging from ventilated façades, swimming pools and spa zones provide another creative challenge to the designer to merge technical performance and aesthetics together in one space. The result is a new horizon for interior designers, architects and other professionals for whom ceramic tiles afford a magnificent opportunity to continue to out do previous projects. Reinvention is what’s behind those little ceramic details which prompt us to want to stay in this place were we are only passing through. Bathrooms thus become the ideal paradise where everything can be found to dream without leaving the room. Ceramic Tile has transformed many baths into retreats and private havens. Having become the panacea of relaxation it is the place where many people will spend the best moments of their day. Be it fortunate travellers enjoying the personality of a charming hotel, or timestarved executives on brief business trips, what could be better after a hydro-massage Areca Elche Hotel (Alicante), Newstone collection by Apavisa. or a spa bath in a beautifully ceramic tiled room, than satisfying our hunger? Without leaving the hotel, the in house restaurant is another transit space where new generation tile finds its ideal destiny. Again obvious reasons come to mind, such as how easy tiles are to clean and how difficult they are to damage. But, if we give flight to our imagination we should remember that they offer incalculable aesthetic potential for creating different atmospheres. Combinations that until very recently were unthinkable are now within many people’s reach. Initial expectations fall short as soon as it becomes apparent all that ceramic tile can accomplish to create either sober, minimalist, welcoming, modern, harmonious and innovative environments. To use a metaphor, the diner can supply the adjectives but there is no doubt that it is the design that helps make the dishes taste better or, at the very least, be more enjoyable. A new way of interpreting elegance and wellbeing is definitely in the air: priorities in our daily live become necessities when they are transferred to a place where we are simply passing through. Barcelona Princess Hotel, Porcelanosa. 32 There are many ways of creating links through design between the guest and the physical space, but few will stand the test of time so well as ceramic tiles. We can guess as much, and more, the moment we arrive at what will be our home for a few days. The theory and the reasoning behind it are proven moments later as we discover tiles placed in the most favorable corners of the room. It is the best way to begin our stay, knowing it will be wonderful CERASPAÑA/18 New formats, new uses The option of using ceramic tiles in public spaces such as hotels has been made possible to a great degree by the recent introduction of new formats and sizes that offer greater adaptability and more versatility in terms of applications. Cerámica Elías, Manual series. Façade of the Luz Hotel in Castellón, Tau Cerámica. FOR A HOTEL, CHOOSING CERAMIC TILE MEANS CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE WILL BE AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. IF A TIMELESS LOOK IS CHOSEN TOO, THE TILES’ DECORATIVE VALUE IS GUARANTEED TO HAVE NO SELL-BY DATE Sol Meliá Gorriones Hotel (Fuerteventura), Azuvi. Their increasing use in architectural projects is a good demonstration of how practical ceramic tile is for much more than just covering floors and walls. More and more specifiers are seeing on site just how true this is and are beginning to view ceramic tile as a material that has great potential for use in construction and worth considering at the planning stage as it always prompts new options. For the experts, continuing along these lines will depend to a fair extent on the amount of resources that continue to be invested in research, which is the real driver for thinking outside the standard box of modern construction and daring to devise new propositions. It is not just a question of innovating with the sizes of tiles but also with shapes, colors, textures and a lengthy list with special emphasis on potential exterior uses. In the opinion of those at the forefront of design, now that today’s ceramic tile offers incredible quality and versatility, as seen in its use in hotels, the time has come to take advantage of this trend and exploit the almost infinite creative possibilities. The only limit is imagination. Technology makes it now possible and continued progress will depend as much on will as on creativity. Ceramic tile dresses reception areas, rooms, corridors, restaurants, spas, terraces and façades of hotels all over the world. 33 News and Events and gave an overview of the real applications for ceramic tile in architectural spaces of yesterday, today and tomorrow. The students were also given a talk by the ceramicists who made the emblematic tiles for the Spanish pavilion at the Aichi Expo in Japan and who are currently working with Patxi Mangado’s studio to create the tiles for the Spanish Pavilion at Zaragoza in 2008. The visit was based at ASCER’s main offices and included a practical session on innovation in ceramic tile given by Vicente Sarrablo, PhD in architecture, who is Director of the Ceramic Tile Department in Barcelona. ASCER SPONSORS AN ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP AT HARVARD In line with its strategy of organizing activities to develop and promote the use of ceramic tiles amongst specifiers, ASCER is sponsoring a workshop on architectural projects at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (USA) during the 2007-8 academic year. Prestigious Spanish architect Patxi Mangado is directing the course. Mangado is currently designing the Spanish Pavilion at the International Expo Zaragoza 2008, in which ceramic tile makes a major feature of ceramic tile. During the course students will be taught about the different types of ceramic material, their characteristics and their applications. One of the most important parts of the course was a visit to Spain by the group of 12 students. The architects visited a number of projects and sites that were key to developing the workshop’s own target project. As part of the program in Spain the students visited the city of Castellón at the end of September to gain a closer insight into the Spanish ceramic tile industry and attend a series of lectures that gave them information designed to help their work on future projects. The content of the lectures covered the features and different types of ceramic tile This international course complements the Ceramic Tile Studies Departments that have been set up in a number of Schools of Architecture across Spain since 2004. The Departments are designed to be a bridge between future professional architects and their potential for creativity and innovation, and industry and its potential to produce extraordinary aesthetics and functionality KERABEN RECEIVES OHSAS 18001 CERTIFICATION GRESPANIA EXPANDS WITH NEW SUBSIDIARY IN POLAND Company News TRES ESTILOS: PIONEERS IN DIGITAL THIRD FIRE DECORATION The most important recent launch from Cerámica Tres Estilos is, without doubt, digital third fire decoration. The company has made a significant investment in R&D in order to become the first manufacturer in the world to decorate glazed, previously fired tiles digitally. The company has consequently managed to overcome the color limitations that ceramic tile manufacturers sometimes face and is the first manufacturer to achieve truer, more intense colors (reds, greens, yellows...) through mixed technology 34 Keraben’s Risk Prevention in the Workplace Management System has been certified as being up to international OHSAS 18001 standards. The award is a clear endorsement of the company’s commitment to ongoing improvement of their personnel’s working conditions and to health and safety at work as factors that are key to their development. This acknowledgement of their standards means that Keraben now joins the small group of innovative companies in Spain’s tile industry that have been similarly recognized. The OHSAS 18001 standards are considered the highest with regard to risk prevention in the workplace Grespania continues to expand internationally as their new subsidiary in Poland, the strategic hub for Central and Eastern Europe, demonstrates. The company has set up a distribution center in Piotrkròv, near Lodz, which includes over four thousand square feet each of display and office space SUPERCERÁMICA GROUP EXPANDS Supercerámica has acquired, through Planomyr, all the shares in Cercos-López, Cerámicas Arcigrés and Star Cerámica. The industrial group comprising Supercerámica, Garogrés and Planomyr has thus taken the expansion they have been pursuing for the past few years a stage further. The process is characterized by a very clear commitment to quality (every company in the group is ISO 9001 certified) and by continued improvement to the group’s trading position Enquiry Service Complete the form below and send to the following address or fax: UK readers: USA readers: Other countries: TILE OF SPAIN SPANISH COMMERCIAL OFFICE 66, Chiltern St., 2nd Floor London W1U 4LS londres@mcx.es Tel. 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