ASCER 23rd Tile of Spain Awards: Winners Revealed

Last week, the jury of the 23rd Tile of Spain Awards for Architecture, Interior Design and Master’s Thesis Projects met at ASCER's head office.

The jury was presided over by prestigious architect Rafael de La-Hoz and its members were architect José Gonzalez Gallegos (Aranguren+Gallegos), Jonathan Arnabat and Jordi Ayala-Bril (Arquitectura G), the editor-in-chief of the magazine Arquitectura y Diseños David Quesada, and the architect and Chairwoman of Castellón Architects' Association Susana Babiloni.

The Tile of Spain Awards have a monetary prize of €15,000 for each of the first prizes in the architecture and interior design categories and €5,000 in the category for architecture students.

The awards are sponsored by Valencia Port Authority, Torrecid and PwC Spain, with the support of the Valencia Ministry for Tax, the Economy and the Public Administration within the framework of an agreement with ASCER.

The purpose of the Tile of Spain Awards is to raise a greater awareness of the use of Spanish tiles in architectural and interior design projects (both in Spain and abroad).  The Tile of Spain Awards are a well-established event with a prestigious reputation among professionals from the world of architecture.

ARCHITECTURE PRIZE

A unanimous decision was taken by the jury to award the first prize to the project "A circular viewpoint" by Javier López Bautista.

The jury praised the way in which the tile materials forged more direct ties with the surroundings, creating a sense of communion between human beings and the earth beneath our feet. Through the layout of the materials, an idea evocative of a panoramic vantage point is achieved, looking out across the landscape.

INTERIOR DESIGN PRIZE

The first prize went to the project "Hill house" by studioNOLET.

The jury singled out the expressive geometrical and chromatic interplay, shunning any kind of uniformity.  Tiles were not only used to clad surfaces, but also to create fixed items of furniture.

MASTER’S THESIS PROJECT PRIZE

The winner of the first prize was the master’s thesis project “A post-extractivist retreat. A spa and leisure centre in Sierra de la Culebra" by Álvaro Pozo Pérez from CEU San Pablo University in Madrid. The jury highlighted his expressive use of tiles, used like scales to resolve very complex geometries in a project that takes into account sustainability by re-using agricultural and fisheries waste as a source of energy for a modern concept of leisure and wellbeing. 

Mentions Architecture category

The jury decided to award two special mentions to the projects.

"Dosmurs House" by Mesura 
They highlighted the simplicity and sensitivity with which ceramic materials had been used, enclosing a volume that faces out onto the landscape with a minimal number of elements.


“Camino de baldosas amarillas” ("Yellow brick road") by La Errería * architecture office. 
The jury noted how a single material had been used not only to fulfil a key role–to lead visitors to the hermitage–but also in all the features along the route; i.e. for the paving, benches, stairs, walls etc.


Mentions Interior design category
The jury decided to award two special mentions in the interior design category.

“House in Guardamar del Segura” by Bernardo Cerrato Arquitecto. 
The jury was impressed by the way in which ceramic tiles were integrated, taking advantage of their simplicity as materials, in spaces with striking architecture.

“Casa 9/3” by CAVAA.
The jury commended the use of ceramic tiles in bringing decorative traditions up to date, together with the skilful way in which the areas were zoned off.

Mention MTP category
The special mention was awarded to the project “A sensory refuge” by Tais Gianella Guevara Lima from CEU San Pablo University in Madrid. The jury commended the careful integration of ceramic tiles with other building materials in the roof and floor.  

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Press release and photos courtesy of ASCER