The new building of the AXA insurance company in Northern Ireland boasts a contemporary façade with a combination of materials and textures. Designed by architects Tim Robinson and Aron Ramage of GM Design Associates and installed by Heron Brothers, the façade brings together design with efficiency and sustainability. The chosen surface was Dekton, not only because of its design, but also because of the technical advantages it offers for this type of application, making it the ideal material for façades.

“I was familiar with Dekton as I had seen it in the Cosentino Belfast showroom, as well as in some Heron Brothers projects, and it has always impressed me. As an ultracompact surface, it suits façades perfectly. The fact that it is resistant to harsh weather conditions and UV rays means that its colour will not fade with prolonged exposure to the sun”, explains Michael Connolly, Commercial Director at Heron Brothers and head of the project.

The architectural project for this flat in Turkey, designed by Pinar Çagatay Kizil from Pera Design İç Mimarlik, posed an ambitious challenge. The aim was to link two flats of the Kuzu Effect mixed-use building in Ankara. The result is a 105 square metre area with plenty of light that has been balanced by a design with dark colours.

One of the most striking aspects of the project was the creation of a virtual corridor with mirrors and partitions that allows spaces to flow, all aligned on a single façade. ‘The kitchen is the only area where we could not intervene, since the plumbing work had already been completed. We only enlarged the size of the island a little and gave it continuity by using Dekton Radium for the worktop, which is also found in the entrance and corridors of the house,’ the studio explains.

In the Italian city of Taranto, Apulia, there is a legendary meeting place that is now coming back to life after the renovation carried out by the architect Lello Nigro. Caffè Tarentum is a historic café restaurant that has been run by the same family for 35 years. The owners want to freshen up this place that offers coffee, pastries and home-made ice cream.

This renovation, carried out by Scrimieri Lab under the supervision of Nigro, aimed to create a warm, welcoming, restrained but elegant space. Materials such as Canaletto Walnut, Dekton by Cosentino and an array of natural matt lacquered finishes have been used to add a sophisticated and very comfortable character to the café.

Casa Decor, the discovery that shaped a house

The owners of this house were very clear when they visited Casa Decor 2020: they wanted a kitchen with the White Macaubas quartzite by Sensa and they wanted their home to be designed by Gärna Studio.

The couple, with 3 independent children, needed an open plan home with spaces that flow and communicate with each other. A cosy house to welcome their children and grandchildren and spend time together. These were their requests to Laura and Enrique of Gärna Studio, an architecture and interior design studio that the couple already knew well thanks to other projects that the architects and designers had carried out.

The project had two clear objectives: to create versatile spaces that could be used at different times depending on the needs; and to achieve a sense of unity in its design, with little variation in terms of elements and textures. To achieve this, Laura and Enrique looked for materials that were easy to fit and that would serve as a guiding thread between the different spaces. “We also played with different ceiling heights and lighting to achieve a greater sense of spaciousness and functionality, creating a welcoming atmosphere”, says Enrique García, architect and project manager at Gärna Studio.

This house was literally designed for film and television stars to stay in while filming for a content production company that broadcasts in the New Mexico area. An ambitious challenge that Steven Storms, project manager and lead design consultant at Apex Homes, undertook with a complete refurbishment after finding the perfect house for this purpose. With a privileged location, stunning city and mountain views and plenty of privacy, the home was ideal for the project.

Storms managed to create a real oasis for celebrities, a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. And to all this he added luxury, sophistication and elegance in every detail. The design was based on the highest quality products and materials. Among them, Dekton and Silestone were two of the key features to add the perfect finishing touch. Both were chosen for their contemporary design and high consistency and can be found in the home in various applications.

This eight storey building, whose façade stands out in the landscape, is situated in the residential neighbourhood Aguas Férreas, in Lugo (Spain). For its design, “one of the basic premises of the developer, Dmanán Viviendas, was to design and execute an environmentally friendly building with an appearance that would stand out from its surroundings”, explains architect Patricia Montes from Aringal SL, the architecture and engineering firm in charge of the project. Therefore, from the very beginning of the project, Aringal’s work focused on combining the client’s objectives with the philosophy of its own company, which is very committed to incorporating sustainability into its projects.

The majestic appearance of the façades and their clean design gives this building a unique character. “The straight forms, terraces, window openings and materials used are its unique features”, says architect Patricia Montes. Two materials were combined in the façades of this building, creating a play of textures: Dekton Edora, a light grey shade with a minimalist look, and Corten steel.

The contemporary design of the suites at Hotel Gränsö Slott blends in with the historic surroundings and coastal landscape of this resort near the idyllic town of Västervik, Sweden. The setting could not be more privileged: a castle dating back to 1800 and a private beach. There, four new beach villas with sea views have been built. These 45 m2 holiday homes feature spacious bathrooms, a bedroom, living room and large terraces. The four villas of the hotel, Lillön, Skanvik, Ekholmen and Tärnskär, have been designed in partnership with Amelie von Essen, from the AHA Anders Holmberg Arkitekter studio.

“When creating the new interior design concept for the Gränsö beach villas, the most important thing was to create a warm and welcoming space with a Scandinavian touch that integrated the surrounding nature”, explains Amelie von Essen. Dekton was chosen as the main material for the bathrooms, with this being used on the walls, floors and countertops. In addition, independent and well differentiated spaces were created, with a separate bathtub, shower and toilet.

With hundreds of people visiting one of the largest shopping centres in Portugal, the materials used in the flooring are paramount to ensure the durability of the design. That is the key to this project: a resistant and durable material such as Dekton that meets the needs in terms of design and functionality at one of the entrances of the Dolce Vita Amadora Shopping Centre, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Two architects from Broadway Malyan, one Spanish and one Portuguese, teamed up to design this high traffic area with open spaces exposed to the elements, which is located at one of the entrances to the shopping centre. The availability of Dekton in large format slabs made it the perfect material to create a seamless and expansive space to welcome visitors.