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PIAM 2018



The third edition of the Matimex International Architecture Prize requested innovative proposals reflecting on "CONTEMPORARY COMMERCIAL SPACES”.

Architecture has always been linked with commerce, from the early market stalls set up in town squares, giving rise to the first bazaars, through to today’s modern shopping malls. Our continually evolving society becomes more and more demanding. Shopping is no longer a matter of simply purchasing a product; today’s shoppers demand a total buying experience.

This is why we need a global design that goes beyond the product itself and views it as one with the brand, the space and the sensations it evokes.

This new approach requires evolution of commercial spaces in response to consumers’ new needs. New commercial spaces that respond to the demands of today’s users.

The contest encouraged reflection on architectural spaces making use of Iris Ceramica Group materials. The judges took into account use of products with the Active Clean Air & Antibacterial Ceramic™ finish and large ceramic slabs in their appraisal.

Prizes in the “professional” category were awarded to:

  • 1st prize in the professional category: Plaza Sostenible, de Javier Serrano, Isabel Gómez y el equipo Baum Lab
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  • 2nd prize in the professional category: Blooms de La Erreria*architecture office. Luis Navarro, Carlos Sánchez y Rafael García.
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  • 1st honourable mention: Factory Garden de Adrián Martínez y Pablo Izaga.
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  • 2nd honourable mention: Slab your Rythm de ELLEVUELLE ARCHITETTI. Matteo Cavina, Michele Vasumini, Giorgio Liverani y Eleonora Festa.

Prizes in the “student” category were awarded to:

  • 1st prize in the student category: M&EC Centro comercial y Mercado en Malilla, de Carlos Carbonell.
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  • 2nd prize in the student category: Un mercado para la ciudad, de Andrés Cárdenas.

In the fourth edition, Matimex awarded four special mentions to PIAM 2018 projects which were particularly appreciated, even though they did not win awards in any category:

  • A city-like dinning experience de Benjamín Iborra, de Mesura.
  • Touch-Box de Carlos Laborda.
  • Be the missing urban plaza de Carlos Dimas, de Mesura.
  • A spatial typology for the informal economy de Alonso Santos.

The panel of judges of the PIAM prize included:

  • Federica Minozzi. Iris Ceramica Group CEO.
  • Juan-Luis Grafulla. Matimex CEO and General Manager.
  • Enric Batlle. Doctor Architect, Head of the Master's Degree in Landscape in UPC-MBLandArch. – Founding partner of Batlle i Roig Arquitectura.
  • Margarida Caldeira. Architect. Board Director EMEA Chair.
  • Lucia Ferrater. Partner Architect OAB.
  • Diego Gronda. Architect and designer, Founder of Studio Gronda.
  • Josep Piñot. Industrial Engineer. Head of Retail Development Services CBRE.