The 2017 edition of the Spanish Tile Awards has recently been announced by its organizers, the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association, "ASCER". The competition is held annually and open to projects and professionals in Spain and worldwide, with the organizers welcoming submissions from architects, designers and students.

The use of ceramic tiles is ubiquitous throughout Spain, with each region having a unique type. The prize aims to improve awareness and understanding of ceramic tiles made in Spain amongst architects and interior designers and promote their use by these professionals.

The importance of this award is highlighted by the large prizes on offer to successful entries. There are three categories in total, with Architectural and Interior projects vying for a prize of 17,000 euros each. The third category invites submissions of degree projects, and is open to students at advanced technical schools of architecture in Spain, has a prize of 5,000 euros.

The award, now in its 16th edition, has adopted a more contemporary image in line with current design trends, with a new website to match this revamped image. The organisers have also launched a promotional video about the Awards on social media.

The judging panel for this award is comprised of numerous high profile architects. The panel will be led by Spanish architect Iñaki Ábalos (chairman for this edition), Professor at ETSAM and resident professor and Chair of Department of Architecture at the GSD of Harvard and founder of international study of architecture Abalos + Sentkiewicz.

The panel also includes Víctor Navarro from Madrid based studio Langarita-Navarro, Portuguese architect Bak Gordon; editor of the journal "2G" Moisés Puente; Barcelona based designer Martín Azúa and Ramón Monfort, from the Castellón Architect's Professional Association.

The 2016 architecture award went to a renovation project for two homes in Oropesa (Toledo) by the Paredes Pedrosa studio. Architect Ángela García de Paredes, the winning studio from previous years, will also feature in the judging panel for this year. The use of ceramic tiles was not limited to a mere covering or finish, but instead it will be evaluated as a material capable of enveloping the project.

MM house by Raúl Montero Martínez and Emilio Pardo Rivacoba. Image © José Hevia

Last year, the panel also decided to give a Special Mention to 'MM House' by Ohlab, a home designed in accordance with the Passivhaus standard in order to guarantee optimum energy efficiency.

2016 winner of the interior design prize,  the "Taba spazioa" gastro space by Ibon Salaberria, - Image © Mikel Eskauriaza

The 2016 interior design prize was awarded to the "Taba spazioa" gastro space by Ibon Salaberria, which is located on the ground floor of the Tabakalera Culture Centre in San Sebastian. 

Special mention in this category was given to "casa#77" by Raúl Montero Martínez and Emilio Pardo Rivacoba, a project to renovate an apartment measuring just 51-square-metre space situated in the loft of a housing block in Pamplona’s historic quarter.

Winner of the 2016 student category. Image © M Wesam Al Asali 

In 2016, the prize in the student category went to M Wesam Al Asali from Cambridge University. The winning project in this category consisted of the construction of three domes using pieces of bamboo to support the domes during construction, an undertaking which highlighted new possibilities for construction using ceramic tiles.

To be eligible for entry, Projects submitted need to have been completed between January 2015 and October 2017.

Registrations are currently open and the project submission deadline is 24th October 2017.

All information about this year's competition, detailed descriptions of previous finalists, or to download application forms, can be found at the competition’s website.

Top image: Two Homes in Oropesa (Toledo) by Paredes Pedrosa Arquitectos. Image © Luis Asín y Paredes Pedrosa

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