Lara Pérez and Enrique Pérez-Sala Pie, two students in the ASCER Ceramic Tile Studies Department at the ESARQ School of Architecture, were each awarded top prizes in the Cevisama LAB International Design Competition for their pieces “Pixel” and “EN.LA.C”, respectively. This is the tenth consecutive year that the ESARQ School of Architecture has earned an award in this international competition.

The winners were recognized for the originality, versatility and functionality of their pieces, which were selected by a panel of judges made up of professionals in the fields of design, architecture, journalism and business. The members of the panel were Pepe Castellano, the president of the Ceramic Industry Research Association (AICE); Fran Clausell from the Ideoestudi coworking community; Antonio Flores in representation of the professional journal El Periódico del Azulejo; and the designers Juan Martínez and Ana Nebot, from the well-known ceramic solutions company Keraben.

In Category A, which is for ceramic products created using semi-dry pressing, Lara Pérez won for her project “Pixel”. It is a square-shaped ceramic tile made up of smaller coloured squares that are divided in half and sloped slightly outwards. This gives a slight vibrating effect to the horizontal and vertical planes of the building. The sloped side has an enamelled surface to maximize the contrast of colour and movement. “The fact that small pixels are created means that the building changes as the distance from which it is being viewed changes”, explained Pérez, who also pointed out how easy it is to install. “This is an extremely interesting product to manufacture in inkjet. Its aesthetic is ideal for public buildings”, judged the panel.

In Category B, which is for ceramic products created by other methods, the panel awarded first prize to Enrique Pérez Sala Pie for his piece “EN.LA.C”, an original solution for façade and tarmac facings. It is made up of four pieces of ceramic made through an extrusion process. The interlocking modules can be connected vertically or horizontally on any of their sides, thereby creating a multitude of possibilities. The panel found it “complex and imaginative”.

Vicente Sarrablo, the Director of the Ceramic Studies Department, was very proud and satisfied with the awards. “The recognition of our students’ work in these ceramic design awards is an example of the professionalization of the department, which has had the distinction of receiving awards at the Cevisama International Exhibition for ten consecutive years”, he said.

The projects presented in the different categories of the Cevisama Design Competition will be on display during the international exhibition, which will be held in Valencia from 11 to 14 February 2014. The award highlights the high level of work produced every year in the ESARQ Ceramic Studies Department, which is sponsored by the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (ASCER) and led by professors Jordi Roviras y Cristina Castelao.

10 YEARS OF THE STUDIES DEPARTMENT

Since the Ceramic Tile Studies Department was set up at the UIC School of Architecture in 2004, more than 200 students have expanded their training with more knowledge about the product, as well as the enormous possibilities that ceramic tiles can have in the creative and conceptual work of these professionals.

In these ten years, students have presented many proposals with an innovative vision and the development of new applications for ceramics. All these projects are included in the Ceramic Materials reports published each academic year. They are available on the website of the Network of Ceramic Studies Departments.

Each academic year, the activities programme has focused on a specific use and application of ceramic tiles in architecture: courtyards, pavements and latticework are some of the topics that have stood out in different editions.

The Ceramic Tile Studies Department at the ESARQ-UIC has invited a number of guest speakers over the years, such as Carlos Ferrater (OAB), Paredes & Pedrosa, Elena Rochi (EMBT), Albert Viaplana, Caruso & St. John, Nieto & Sobejano, Javier García Solera, Juan Herreros, Josep Bohigas (BOPBAA), Bernalte & León, Toni Gironès, Carlos Quintans, Amid (Cero9), Carme Pinós, Fernando Menis, Ruiz-Geli, Barkow & Leibinger, Peter Rich and Joâo Álvaro Rocha. On many occasions, they have participated in the student project development process or as members of the jury in the project competition held at the end of each academic year.