The 18 students taking the subject Innovation and Design of Ceramic Materials in the Ceramic Tile Studies Department defended before a jury the ceramic parts they had been working on during the term. The jury was made up of members of Arquitectura G, PmMt Arquitectos and Lagula Arquitectos, and a representative of ASCER. According to the jury, the three winning parts were all able to make use of different ceramic materials for architectural envelopes.

THE WINNING PARTS AND JURY'S COMMENTS

Link, by Enrique Pérez-Sala. According to the jury, this part won "because of its compositional possibilities and ability to open new work lines. It is a highly complete system that is very open at the same time. The part offers a large range of possibilities, since the same mould can be used to make different parts for different places on the building: the places where it meets the roof, pavement, windows, corners, etc. It is a very real project and the part is easy to mass produce."

ColorEdge, by Carles Palau. The jury praised this part: "With very little, it has managed to highlight the edge, a part that has received little attention in the world of ceramics until now. The part will combine well with standard parts. By discovering the edge of the ceramic tile, the part reveals new challenges and lines of industrialization." 

Waves, by Emma Vives. According to the jury, "This asymmetrical geometric shape is very interesting. The versatility of a single part that can adapt to different needs of the building. The passage of time could give it added value and highlight the texture of the part and the envelope in general."

Vicente Sarrablo, the Director of the Department, pointed out that one example of the professionalization of this studies department is the recognition of the work of students in the ceramic design awards held within the framework of the Cevisama Fair, given that ESARQ students have won awards in nine consecutive editions of the competition.

The Ceramic Tile Studies Department jury was held almost at the same time as the jury for the 12th edition of the ASCER Tile of Spain Awards announced its decision in the categories of Architecture and Interior Design. First prize in the category of interior design in this year's edition went to Arquitectura G, whose members acted as the jury for the student projects on Friday, 30 November 2013. The Arquitectura G studio is made up of ESARQ-UIC alumni (Aitor Fuentes, Jordi Ayala y Jonathan Arnabat). Oddly enough, Ayala, in 2006, and Arnabat, in 2004, won the Ceramic Tile Studies Department competition when they were students.

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.