Tapas. Spanish Design for Food, exhibition about design and gastronomy

Gastronomy is one of the highlighted attractions in our country. Spain has always been involved into raw materials of high quality, gastronomic creativity and design.

This project curated by Juli Capella, organised by Acción Cultural Española with the collaboration of the Spanish Embassy in Tokyo and Tokyo Designers Week, wants to show more than 200 hundred pieces which transmit the contribution of Spanish gastronomic culture to design, and international cuisine.

The selection consists of pieces from the smallest salt-cellar to a dinner service, furniture and interior design of restaurants, including architecture with examples of Spanish wine cellars. Moreover, the exhibition tries to enhance the enormous innovative ability of the « big names » of Mediterranean cuisine, whose techniques have shaken up international gastronomy.

Among the chosen pieces some icons from mobles 114 catalog can be found: Om chair by Martín Azúa, oil and vinegar containers by Rafael Marquina and Ricard by André Ricard.

 

Also restaurant Jaleo, by renowned José Andrés in Washington designed by Juli Capella is present as an important project. Spanish furniture has been chosen for the interior, for instance Green chairs by Javier Mariscal.

The travelling show has stopped by cities like Tokyo, Miami, Washington DC, Seoul, Toronto, Ljubljana, Albuquerque and Guanajuato. Now it exhibits in Spain at last, at Central de Diseño Matadero Madrid. But the exhibition will be at the same time at Museo Franz Mayer in Mexico City.

All the information at the web Acción Cultural Española.

TAPAS. Spanish design for food

Central de Diseño de Matadero Madrid (DIMAD)
Pº de la Chopera, 14
28045 Madrid

La Ginesta library, Begues

The new cultural equipment of Begues, a village in the surroundings of Barcelona, has been designed by Calderón Folch Sarsanedas architecture studio as a 3-in-1 which emphasizes the wonderful landscape values of the site.

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A building with three different purposes: a theatre for 350 audients, a 1.260m2 public library (La Ginesta) and a community centre (El Roure), hosts a great amount of different activities and services.

A big old oak which had to be preserved gives the name to the building (Roure is oak in Catalan). The site, with a rather triangular shape, is a shore of the stream meander with the tree as a landmark, and it works as an advantage for the interiors, gaining continuous natural light.

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This is the highlight of the library, oriented to extract maximum advantage to light to make it the most comfortable for the users. To equip it Green chairs designed by Javier Mariscal have been used, and also Riga waste bins and Hulot coat stands designed by Joan Gaspar.

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El Roure has been nominee to Mies van der Rohe Award 2015.

Photography: Meritxell Arjalaguer, Calderon Folch Sarsanedas

Martín Azúa: beauty, nature and ethics.

The natural cycle of life, the evolution of objects or the relationships between man and his environment are aspects that Martin Azua stresses in his designs. A starting point determined in part by his origins. « In the Basque Country I think we have a special relationship with our landscape. In my case with a particular place: a beech forest in the mountains of Opakua, Álava (Spain). When I walk in the woods I feel good, everything that happens around me makes sense. In Barcelona, nostalgia makes me miss all this and I reflect this feeling on some of my projects. »

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Do your designs aspire to reproduce natural processes? Or do you prefer to re-think and explore an imaginary world?

I think we have much to learn from nature, it embodies a basic principle of economy where nothing exists for the sake of itself. Even the seemingly most capricious of flowers has a very specific function. I would like my designs to help to become aware of our belonging to a natural environment. When you’re a kid, imagination takes you to new places; with age imagination leave the way to memories.

Looking at your Luco stool, what aspects of its design are of a universally intelligible language and what other of an individual, more local language?

In their basic essence, objects of all cultures are similar but there are subtle differences that highlight an incredible diversity of responses to a same problem. The three-legged stool is basic and stable. Luco retains this primary idea but adds very contemporary aspects. Its manufacture involves a craftsman lathe and a CNC workshop. I think that’s what makes it special. Memory has been an essential ingredient in this project.

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To cherish the value of an object begins from appreciating the material used?

Yes, the material conveys much. Unfortunately some industrial processes remove features that often add value, but in the case of Luco, beech wood is clear and delicate, it has very subtle veins that stand out with the turning process and we protected the wood with a varnish that respects the silky touch of wood.

Your relationship with M114 goes back to 2006 and to the collections of chairs and stools Om and Flod, currently available in the catalog M114. How would you summarize your professional relationship with Mobles114?

It is a relationship between designers. I respect the work that JM Tremoleda and JM Masana have made over time in Mobles114. They have always had a very functional line. Their products include a discrete and somewhat timeless beauty. When talking to them there is no room for whim, the arguments are very important. I like working with them: they have clear ideas and are very demanding.