PORCELANOSA Puts the Finishing Touches to its 19th International Show

 

Porcelanosa Grupo will be presenting its latest ideas in tiles, kitchens and bathrooms, together with new developments in building materials and systems at the next edition of the international Global Architecture Show, held from January 30th to February 3rd 2012.

 

The group’s eight firms are in the midst of revamping the showroom of its head office, which covers an area of over 13,000m2, so that Porcelanosa can showcase its latest creations. Architect Joaquín Torres (from A-cero) collaborated in the work by designing Porcelanosa’s new showroom.

 

This will be the 19th edition of Porcelanosa Group’s yearly show. In 2011, it was attended by nearly 12,000 visitors from 40 different countries.

 

PORCELANOSA opens a new showroom in Oviedo

 

The new 2,500m² showroom is located in the Espíritu Santo shopping district

 

After opening new showrooms abroad in Brazil, Argentina, Angola and Washington, Porcelanosa Group is continuing to expand its national sales network, with the inauguration of a new showroom in the capital of the Asturias region (Spain).

 

The new showroom is located in Espíritu Santo, one of Oviedo’s main shopping districts, in a light-filled, spacious building featuring a showroom of over 2,500 m2 for displaying and selling products made by the group’s eight firms.

 

Nearly 1,000 guests attended the opening in mid December, many of them well known faces from local society and management executives from Porcelanosa. Also present were guests of honour, such as Isabel Preysler, who has been lending her image to the company for over 25 years and was accompanied by three of her children.

 

PORCELANOSA is singled out to receive a prize at the “Arte y Cemento” Awards

 

The firm received the award for the best tile manufacturer

 

Arte y Cemento, a trade journal that has just celebrated its 55th anniversary, recently awarded a series of prizes to firms in recognition of their efforts, in 2011, to research and develop products and systems that contribute toward the sector’s constant modernization and renewal.

 

Readers of the trade journal voted for the winners of the 17 award categories. Porcelanosa received the prize for the best tile manufacturer at an act held in Madrid, attended by a large group of professionals and executives from the sector.

 

Porcelanosa receives an innovation award for the development of Krion®

 

The Porcelanosa group has received the Material Innovation Award at the 35th edition of Fimma-Maderalia for the creation of Krion®, a high-tech material developed by the group’s company System-pool, which also specialises in bathroom and spa equipment

 

Krion® is a new-generation solid surface, pleasant to the touch and similar to natural stone, made of natural minerals with a low percentage of highly resistant resins that provide it with a series of exclusive features: it lacks pores, is antibacterial, hard, tough and long-lasting, easy to repair, only requires low maintenance and is easy to clean.

 

KRION® is shaped in a similar way to wood, making it possible to cut the sheets, connect them and thermoform them to create curved sections, and can even be injection moulded, making it possible to create designs and projects that are impossible with other materials.

 

The organisers of the International Wood and Furniture Sector Suppliers Trade Fair has given this award to Krion® “for the multiple possibilities it offers in terms of its uses, and its ability to respond to the technical and aesthetic demands of architects, decorators and interior designers.”

 

 

The World's Biggest Coffee Morning at PORCELANOSA

 

Porcelanosa collaborated with the Macmillan Foundation against cancer in organising the “World’s Biggest Coffee Morning” benefit event, which was held simultaneously in hundreds of locations throughout the UK on the past 30th of September.

 

Since it was created in 1911, the Macmillan Foundation has provided psychological, medical and financial support in the United Kingdom to people affected by cancer, both sufferers and their family members.

 

In 1990, the Foundation began an initiative based on holding Coffee Mornings, where people donated the price of their coffee to help with the fight against cancer. Since then, the Foundation has raised more than 60 million pounds with its yearly “World’s Biggest Coffee Morning” event.

 

Porcelanosa’s customers and friends were invited to a benefit breakfast on 30th September at its Nottingham showroom. The sales staff brought handmade cakes cooked by themselves. They all joined a nice breakfast to show their support to this cause.

 

Porcelanosa receives a prize at the UK’s Kbb Design Awards

 

Nicole Foster, a member of Porcelanosa’s sales team in Scotland, received first prize in the “Young Designer of the Year” category at the eighteenth edition of the prestigious award ceremony organised each year by the magazine “Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms” in the UK.

 

Nicole, who won in the category for designers under the age of 25, presented the project for an en-suite rectangular bathroom equipped with the Street collection, with the water zones featuring the Crystal Cherry series, both from Venis. Nicole chose to integrate the shower using the same floor tiles as those used on the bathroom floor. The winning project was rounded off with a twin washbasin from the Ark collection, Nora taps and Nk Compact sanitary ware.

 

Nicole collected her award at the gala held by the magazine in London, accompanied by the majority of the team from Porcelanosa Scotland.

 

New Porcelanosa Showroom in Newcastle

 

The Porcelanosa Group has strengthened its presence in the United Kingdom with the recent opening of a new showroom in the English city of Newcastle.

 

The new showroom in Scotswood Road, one of the main access roads leading into the city centre, features displays of the company’s products covering more than 600 m2 on two floors.

 

The opening event for the showroom took place in the middle of July, bringing together a large number of professionals from the area, and had a decidedly Spanish feel, with traditional cuisine and a performance by the Flamenco group ‘Porvenir.’

 

Porcelanosa set to open a new showroom concept in the heart of London

 

Porcelanosa will be opening a new technical office in London, aimed at professionals from the world of architecture and interior design, where it will display the most cutting-edge construction materials and systems developed by the Group.

 

The firm plans to install its premises before the end of the year in London’s central Clerkenwell area, in a 200-square metre space designed by the interior design firm Culdesac, creators of other spaces for Porcelanosa, who have created a working environment with large meeting spaces to encourage direct contact and constant collaboration with the numerous architecture studios concentrated in this part of the city.

 

Porcelanosa at the F1 Grand Prix.

 

Porcelanosa invited more than 300 guests to attend the European F1 Grand Prix in Valencia.

 

Porcelanosa treated 320 guests to three days of authentic thrills and spills at the Valencia Street Circuit, where they had the chance not only to enjoy the races but also the fabulous atmosphere at one of the circuit’s most exclusive terraces, where a range of activities were on offer, including massages in an oxygen bubble, wine tasting and live performances from a classic rock band and international DJs. And all this accompanied by a delicious catering service and the personalised service of a large team.

 

Guests included architects, interior designers and major distributors from Spain, France, UK, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Morocco and the UAE who also enjoyed the private parties at L’Umbracle in the City of Arts and Science and Las Arenas Hotel Spa.

 

A reward for loyalty
Most of those present were rewarded for their loyalty and participation in the ‘ Butech takes you to the F1’ campaign, which enabled numerous professionals from the building industry to enjoy the Valencia Grand Prix thanks to the points they’d earned with their Professional Class card.

 

 

A- cero, designers of the new PORCELANOSA showroom.

 

The prestigious architecture studio run by Joaquín Torres and Rafael Llamazares has been commissioned with the design of the firm's new showroom situated at its Head Offices.

 

This revamped area, which boasts more than 600 metres of exhibition space, will be divided into four clearly differentiated zones, each representing homes that have been fully equipped with Porcelanosa Group materials and bearing the unique hallmark A-cero leaves on all its projects.

 

In this case, a key focal point is the presence of natural light that bathes the interior, bringing out the full beauty and strength of the materials.

 

 

THE PAR-KER® COLLECTION, WINNER OF ANOTHER AWARD IN LAS VEGAS.

 

The organisers of HD EXPO 2011 Las Vegas, one of the premier US exhibitions, awarded a prize for excellence to PORCELANOSA's Alaska Grey model.

 

The event, which was held recently at the Sands Expo Convention Centre in Las Vegas, is one of the leading exhibitions for professional hospitality design spaces such as casinos, hotels, spas, golf residential accommodation and even cruise liners.

 

This is a key event for designers, interior decorators and architects in search of inspiration amongst the more than 900 exhibitors that cover a wide range of manufacturers and artisans of hospitality products and services.

 

Within this context, the event organisers decided to award one of the Porcelanosa Group's products a prize for its outstanding quality. The chosen product was the Porcelanosa Par-ker® Alaska Grey model, winner of the “Concept Clarity” Award.

 

This award acknowledges the work of the Porcelanosa Group in creating building materials that combine design, functionality and durability.

 

 

PORCELANOSA PAYS TRIBUTE TO PATRICIA URQUIOLA AND CARLOS FERRATER DURING ITS ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS CEREMONY

Spain’s finest architects and interior designers attended the event organised by the firm in Madrid.

 

Last Thursday, PORCELANOSA celebrated the fourth edition of its Architecture and Interior Design Awards at the Casino de Madrid during a gala dinner attended by more than two hundred guests, including some of Spain's leading architects and interior designers. This is the fourth edition of this highly successful and consolidated event that this year attracted more than two hundred projects in its three categories.

 

This year, entrants faced the challenge of designing the interior of a city loft. The projects centred on the use of materials produced by the Group, combined with coherent design options for the various spaces and an intelligent use of the various materials. The winners in the Student category were Bodgan Petrenko and Roman Bozhenko from the National University of Construction and Architecture in Kiev, Ukraine, with a futuristic project for a home built over the sea. The award in the professional category went to Oscar Castro for his LoftPool project. This original design and use of materials earned him the unanimous vote of the panel of judges.

 

This latest edition also included a particular tribute to real architecture, with awards going to the best completed projects featuring materials by Porcelanosa Group. The winner in this category was architect Martín Lejárraga for his restoration project for the historical fencing halls in the city of Cartagena.

 

THE JUDGES

The prizes were awarded by leading professionals from the world of architecture and interior design. The select multidisciplinary panel of judges was chaired by top architect Rafael de La-Hoz, and also included other prestigious professionals such as Joaquín Torres, known for his designs of the homes of celebrities such as Cristiano Ronaldo or Penélope Cruz; Josep Riu, interior designer Ignacio García de Vinuesa, Estrella Salietti or Fran Silvestre.

 

A TRIBUTE TO PATRICIA URQUIOLA AND CARLOS FERRATER

The PORCELANOSA Group also paid tribute to the careers of two of today's greatest and best-known professionals.

 

A leading figure in Spanish architecture, Carlos Ferrater is the name behind major projects such as Barcelona’s Olympic Village and winner of top awards including the Spanish National Architecture Prize. He is also the architect behind the new library in Vila-Real, which features and innovative ceramic tile façade system developed by Butech. During his speech of thanks Ferrater stressed that the key to the sector's future lies in increasing close ties and collaboration between architecture and the industry.

 

Patricia Urquiola also received a well-deserved tribute for her contribution to the promotion of Spanish design. Since setting up her own studio in Milan, the work of this Oviedo-born designer has been characterised by a seemingly endless capacity for creativity. Her multidisciplinary profile has led her to embark on widely-varying projects, ranging from the design of luxury hotels such as the Hotel Mandarín Oriental in Barcelona, to original items for leading interior design firms.

 

 

FINALISTS IV ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS 2011

 

The members of the jury of IV PORCELANOSA Architecture and Interior Design Awards 2011 in Villarreal (Castellón) met on 5th of May in order to review and study the different projects presented. Once discussed, we established the following finalists:

 

PROJECTS CATEGORY
430 - 436 - 453

 

PROFESSIONAL FUTURE PROJECTS CATEGORY
103 - 303 - 348 - 427

 

STUDENTS FUTURE PROJECTS CATEGORY
254 - 268 - 309 - 325 - 375 - 388 - 406 - 437 - 469 - 482

 

The winners will be announced at the dinner at the Casino on Calle Alcala on 26th of May.

 

Finalists will be invited to the mentioned event. Please contact with the organization via email before 17th of May in order to confirm attendance:

 

Click here

 

Success for PORCELANOSA Bath at ISH

 

The figures for the latest edition of the ISH Frankfurt Trade Fair - 250,000 square metres of exhibition space and 204,000 visitors in just five days -, further consolidate this event’s position as the world’s biggest showcase for bathroom designs.

 

PORCELANOSA was once again the centre of attraction at the event, exhibiting the full potential of its brands specializing in bathroom furniture and equipment. Gamadecor, Noken and Systempool showcased their principal new products in a space covering more than four hundred square metres.

 

All eyes were on Gamadecor with its combination of minimalist products, many featuring KRION®, with a selection of furniture in pure art deco style and functional designs reflecting the latest avant-garde trends, proof of this manufacturer’s interest in meeting the varying needs of each market. The Wind collection received an enthusiastic reception on a stand that also featured leading Gamadecor products such as the Tetris and Piano collections.

 

With the innate elegance of its Imagine settings, the sense of nostalgia evoked by the Dynasty series, and the refined luxury of its Lounge collection, Noken once again managed to win over visitors thanks to its skilful blend of functionality, comfort and quality design.

 

Systempool remained true to its commitment to wellness and the benefits of water with Season, its collection of rain showerheads and the new champagne-effect hydromassage concept, incorporated into its Soleil bathtubs.

 

 

New KRION® ventilated façades

 

Butech and Systempool have joined forces to come up with a new Ventilated Façade system that adapts to the characteristics of KRION®. KRION® VF has been designed to guarantee compliance with the strictest international building regulations and includes key technical aspects related to civil safety, installation and useful life.

 

Each machined area on the KRION® sheet comes with an aluminium socket into which a self-tapping screw can be inserted and is then anchored to the profiles assembled on the building exterior. All aluminium profile elements are made from a 6005 T6 alloy; the entire ventilated façade is highly resistant, offering maximum durability - even under the most adverse conditions.

 

KRION® VF modules are made to measure for each specific project. Each project is the object of close study by a skilled team of highly specialized experts that advise the architect on how to explore the new possibilities offered by this innovative building system.

 

The first integral ventilated façade project featuring KRION® is currently being carried out in collaboration with Inditex at the Bershka store on Preciados Street in Madrid. This new front features 24 KRION® Stone modules each measuring 3x2 metros. They come with an integrated led lighting system which, together with the pure white tone of KRION® Stone, look set to turn this building into a focal point thanks to its outstanding luminosity.

 

 

PORCELANOSA closes its most international exhibition

 

The PORCELANOSA Group has closed the eighteenth edition of its International Architecture Exhibition, held at the company’s headquarters during the first week of February.

 

This year more than 12,000 customers visited the showrooms of the Group’s eight companies, matching the record number of visitors registered during the previous edition and with a sharp rise in the number of international visitors.

 

Highlights of the event included large format wall and floor ceramic tiles, avant-garde designs in kitchen and bathroom furniture, elegant fine materials, KRION® Solid Surface, URBATEK® through body porcelain tiles, the CLI-KER® system for dry floor tile laying and Concept Showers.

 

 

PORCELANOSA opens its first showroom in Abu Dhabi

 

The capital of luxury has been the latest to join the more than 400 stores that PORCELANOSA has distributed throughout the whole world.

 

The company opened its first showroom in Abu Dhabi in the middle of December, a space covering more than 800 square metres in the exclusive district of The Corniche, with the city’s finest beaches and shopping centres. Apart from its excellent location, the new showroom has a magnificent distribution oriented towards the exterior, drawing attention to its numerous window displays.

 

The inauguration featured numerous representatives from the Arab business world, together with a large delegation from the company. Guests included the Spanish ambassador in the UAE, Gonzalo de Benito, and the international top model Valeria Mazza, a long-time friend of the company, and who acted as the patroness for the event. The Director for International Expansion and Executive Vice-Chairman of PORCELANOSA, Silvestre Segarra, thanked all of those present for making the company’s expansion in the UAE a reality.

 

 

4th EDITION OF THE ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS 2011

 

The PORCELANOSA Group announces the 4th edition of its Architecture and Interior Design Awards.

 

The PORCELANOSA Group is organising another edition of its annual awards, aimed at recognising the work of the finest current and future professionals in the architecture and interior design sectors.

 

The rules for these awards, which are now in their 4th year, can be downloaded from the competition website at www.porcelanosa-interiorismo.com

 

More awards, new categories, exclusive settings and a panel of judges made up of leading international figures are the main attractions of an event that will be rounded off with the awards ceremony set for 26 May 2011 in Madrid.

 

Those wishing to take part must pre-register by filling in a simple form that can be downloaded from the event website and send in the project in accordance with the specified requirements no later than 15 April.

 

A unique opportunity to discover at first hand all the latest trends in architecture and interior design with the PORCELANOSA Group.

 

 

PORCELANOSA Supports Sustainable Architecture.

 

PORCELANOSA Group has developed a series of specific products of determinate characteristics under the ECOTECH brand name to help care for the environment and promote sustainable building.

 

Examples of products now available at Porcelanosa showrooms range from the STON-KER® Ecologic tile collection, manufactured with over 95% recycled material, to eco-efficient taps that reduce water consumption and wood flooring from sustainably managed forests certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes). In this way, PORCELANOSA actively contributes to building sustainability and environmental conservation.

 

 

PORCELANOSA, Spain’s most reputable ceramic tile manufacturer

 

According to a study by the Reputation Institute (RI), PORCELANOSA is considered to be Spain’s most reputable ceramic tile manufacturer.

 

For the first time ever in Spain, this study (Reputation Pulse 2010) has measured the corporate reputation of both Spanish and foreign companies operating in the country, taking into account aspects such as confidence, respect and admiration.

 

PORCELANOSA, which ranks 39 out of the 140 companies included in the study, obtained a rating of 72.71 points, and is perceived by Spanish consumers as a robust and consolidated company, ahead of brands such as Nike or Microsoft.

 

Food companies Danone and Nutrexpa, and car manufacturer BMW top the ranking.

 

Iplus Prize of Excellence in Sustainability

 

STON-KER® Ecologic rewarded for respect to the environment

 

Porcelanosa has received the Iplus Prize rewarding excellence in sustainability for STON-KER® Ecologic, the eco-friendly ceramic tile from Porcelanosa.

 

STON-KER® Ecologic is manufactured from recycled materials that come from the production process, resulting in a tile made from 95% recycled material that combines the resistance and versatility of the glazed porcelain.

 

The production process of STON-KER® Ecologic notably reduces the consumption of raw materials providing significant energy savings during the production process. This actively contributes to improving buildings’ sustainability and the care of the environment, factors greatly valued by the jury of the Iplus prizes, granted by the Group Way.

 

Porcelanosa kitchens triumph at Eurocucina 2010

 

The Spanish firm enjoyed major success during its first ever participation at this event.

 

Taking stock after this recent event, the results couldn’t be better for Porcelanosa Grupo which, for the first time ever, attended the Italian bi-annual event as an exhibitor.

 

This year, the Milan International Kitchen Furniture Exhibition, held between 14 and 19 April in conjunction with the prestigious Furniture Fair, attracted 144 exhibitors that occupied 33,000 square metres. Visitor numbers were extremely positive, reaching almost 330,000, 7% more than the previous edition.

 

The Porcelanosa Group, under its specialised kitchen brand Gamadecor, presented its latest designs for this space, featuring innovative materials and eye-catching designs. For the last twenty years, Gamadecor has been designing kitchens as living spaces in which materials and design converge to ensure functionality and comfort for users.

 

KRION®, state-of-the-art materials for kitchens.

 

Gamadecor includes the most innovative materials in its designs. The latest models presented at Eurocucina included kitchen furniture featuring fronts and worktops in Krion®, a material developed by Porcelanosa Grupo, made up of natural minerals and offering excellent resistance to chemical products, stains and heat, making it the ideal choice for kitchens that demand only the very best.

 

In addition, its anti-bacterial properties, certified in accordance with the UNE EN ISO 1186 standard, guarantee its food grade compatibility and consequently its use for worktops and any other element that may come into direct contact with food.

 

Additional information

PORCELANOSA opens a new showroom in AlmerÍa

 

The new facilities occupy more than 12,000 square metres.

 

The opening event was attended by around 1,700 guests.

 

On 8 May, Porcelanosa, which has been present in the Andalusian province for more than twenty years, opened its new Almería showroom. With this latest opening the company, which now has three showrooms in the region, has further consolidated its structure in the region. The new showroom is situated in the Vía Park Bahía Business Park, just 15 minutes outside the provincial capital.   

 

The new showroom occupies more than 12,000 square metres. Around 2,000 square metres will be given over to the display and sale of the products manufactured by the Group’s eight companies. The facilities will also act as the distribution hub for the province, thanks to the creation of a logistics centre capable of handling more than half a million square metres of tiles.

 

The event, which attracted around 1,700 guests, was attended by numerous celebrities and members of Porcelanosa's senior management team, as well as VIP guests such as Isabel Preysler, who was accompanied by her daughter Tamara and son Julio, as well as his girlfriend, the Belgian model Charisse Verhaert. This was the first time the couple had been seen in public with Isabel.

 

PORCELANOSA to clad Castellón Airport with ceramic tiles

 

As part of efforts to emphasise the presence of ceramic tiles in the most representative buildings in the province, PORCELANOSA has been chosen to clad the facilities of Castellón Airport with its products.

 

PORCELANOSA will install its ceramic floor and wall tiles both on the inside and outside of the buildings, using advanced systems and materials for the cladding on the façade. The bathrooms and public areas in the terminal will also be equipped with materials from the PORCELANOSA group.

 

As a result, the Airport will become an excellent entry point to the province, highlighting the relevance of the ceramic tile sector within the industrial fabric of Castellón.

Porcelanosa to distribute its products through El Corte Inglés

 

PORCELANOSA has reached an agreement with El Corte Inglés for the distribution of its products in the retail group’s network of department stores. 

 

PORCELANOSA Grupo products will now be on sale in El Corte Inglés’ household departments, in addition to PORCELANOSA’s own showrooms in Spain.

 

Thanks to this collaboration agreement, the PORCELANOSA Group will have a space for the display and sale of its products featuring its exclusive designs for the home in El Corte Inglés.

 

PORCELANOSA Grupo receives an innovation award for its material Krion

 

PORCELANOSA Grupo has been awarded the Equip’Innov Prize at the Equip’Hotel trade fair in Paris for the most innovative material in the hostelry sector, for the development and application of Krion®.

 

Krion® is a hi-tech material that makes it possible to create complex shapes without joins, that is long-lasting, non-porous and highly resistant to chemical agents.

 

At present, PORCELANOSA Grupo has several product lines made of Krion®, used by Systempool in the manufacture of baths, shower trays, columns and other bathroom equipment.

 

Porcelanosa, One of Spain’s Best-Known Brands Internationally

 

cording to a study by Carlos III University for the Leading Brands of Spain Forum, PORCELANOSA is one of the best-known brands internationally. The group is headed by the textile chain Zara, Banco Santander, Mango and Real Madrid, followed by companies like BBVA, Telefónica, Iberia and Porcelanosa, among others. According to the study, Spanish products and brands are seen to have a prestigious reputation, mainly for their design, image, price-quality ratio and the standard of products and/or services.

 

ECOTECH, PORCELANOSA Grupo supporting Sustainable Development

 

PORCELANOSA Grupo has created Ecotech, a brand through which the group wishes to present all of the different actions it undertakes to promote the care of the environment and sustainable development.

 

As part of this project, it has designed an informative catalogue detailing the measures the group takes to preserve the ecosystem.