Posts by Spain for Design
Un Nido de Culebras: Innovative Leather Art
“Where do ideas come from, ways of making…? Well, from the world, from all those who made in the past and those who make in the present. What do I know?” Narciso Galan Narciso Galan (Somines, Grado, Asturias) The story of Narciso Galan’s studio Un Nido de Culebras began in 1987. “I have never worked…
Read MoreCeramica Soluna: Faces and Masks
Originally from Madrid, María Tejada (“Marietta”) creates ceramics from her studio, Cerámica Soluna, in Cudillero, Asturias. She came to the craft by chance, through a friend who was studying it in Madrid. She took courses to learn more about it and moved to Asturias in 2006, where she continued to perfect her technique. Her pieces-…
Read MoreCristina Mato: Clay in Motion
Cristina Mato is a ceramic artist, based in Oviedo. “I started ceramics as a hobby 15 years ago. I immediately knew that it was my calling. I kept at it, taking lessons at the Escuela Municipal de Artes Plásticas de Oviedo, and participating in workshops with ceramic masters. The beginning of my artistic career took…
Read MoreAsturias for Artisans
Asturias has a wealth of artisan traditions, notably in wood, metal crafts, bladesmith (knives from Taramundi), and pieces made with azabachea (jet stone). Artisans in Asturias continue to work in traditional crafts, but many are making them contemporary by, for example, using technology in their processes. Others are dispensing with traditional ways of making and finding their…
Read MoreCongress Center in Oviedo, Spain by Santiago Calatrava
Asturias for Architecture
Asturias has no shortage of architecturally significant buildings and monuments, including the most complete collection of late medieval architecture in Western Europe. Dating from the ninth and early tenth centuries, they are unparalleled for their quality and preservation in their original state. Asturias is known for pre-Romanesque architecture, six of which have UNESCO World Heritage status, one…
Read MoreAsturias: Memories of a Natural Paradise
“Asturias, paraíso natural” (“Asturias, Natural Paradise”) is the official slogan of Turismo Asturias, the tourism office of the Principality of Asturias. Parts of this northern region of Spain are on the Northern Route of the Way of Saint James, popularly known as the Camino de Santiago. It has a breathtaking landscape, where the mountain and sea…
Read MoreDesign Events, News
News July 3, 2020 Ana Hernández and Christophe Penasse, co-founders of Valencia-based studio Masquespacio, go from strength to strength. On June 30, they launched their new brand Mas Creations with the introduction of two pieces. The line of furniture and objects represents a personal vision of a universe that is full of textures, contrasting materials, and, in keeping…
Read MoreBook Nook: Ibiza Bohemia
Ibiza Bohemia Maya Boyd (Text), Renu Kashyap (Producer), Published by Assouline (June 2017) Every once in a while, one comes across a coffee table book so engaging that it not only feeds us with knowledge and induces us to linger at the images, but it also encourages us to immerse ourselves in a place. Ibiza:…
Read MoreBook Nook: Three Essential Books about Artisan Traditions in Spain
Devotees of local crafts fairs seek them out not only for pleasure but as a respite from shops selling massed-produced items made elsewhere. They provide an opportunity to purchase one of a kind pieces, support local businesses, which in turn may contribute to retaining or reviving age-old traditions that may otherwise disappear. Crafts are often…
Read MoreTado: The Little Shop of Ceramics
“All those who build a house around a tree or a rock and who make this tree or rock a beautiful and useful addition”. Tado owner Sylvie Fiachetti about her inspiration. Tado is Sylvie Fiachetti’s shop in the Las Letras neighbourhood of Madrid. She has been attracted to well-made objects since childhood. With no formal…
Read MoreMy Pieces from Spain
My Pieces from Spain have moved with me to my various homes over the years. Some are online purchases, others in-store. There are pieces that I bought for my pleasure, and gifts from my Spanish in-laws with one from my father-in-law who once owned two gift shops in Madrid. Porcelain. Metal. Leather. Textiles. Ceramics. Some…
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