Contemporary ceramics are experiencing a period of renewal in which tradition and modernity converge to give rise to new creative languages. Ancestral techniques, materials rooted in local territories, and knowledge passed down through generations are being reinterpreted through design, technology, and experimentation, resulting in proposals that connect the past and the present. This evolution will take centre stage at Craft Lab, the space dedicated to contemporary craftsmanship at interihotel MAD26, taking place from 17 to 19 November at IFEMA Madrid.

Under the concept “From Memory: Tradition and Modernity in Contemporary Ceramics” and curated by journalist and independent curator Tachy Mora, Craft Lab will explore how contemporary ceramics are developing new forms of expression rooted in their cultural heritage and local context. The initiative brings together brands and creators working at the intersection of craftsmanship, art, architecture, design, and technology. Their works remain deeply connected to their origins while also engaging with contemporary, global sensibilities.

This approach is particularly relevant to hotel and restaurant design, where craftsmanship can go beyond its decorative function to become a vehicle for conveying culture and heritage. Materials, forms, and artisanal techniques bring individuality to spaces and create emotional bonds through shared references that appeal to memory and sensory experience.

Craftsmanship as a source of identity in hospitality design

Craft Lab will symbolically recreate a hotel's lobby and lounge area, incorporating wall compositions, large-format pieces, lighting, and tableware. Through these elements, the space will showcase the potential of contemporary ceramics to shape interior architecture and help create distinctive environments connected to the local territory or the identity of each project.

The selected works combine different approaches to ceramic creation. Some stand out for their decorative and expressive qualities, while others explore functional applications related to lighting, wall coverings, or gastronomy. They all share a vision of craftsmanship that builds on a deep understanding of traditional techniques to explore new possibilities through design, creativity, and collaboration.

Eight projects connecting tradition and contemporary design

This edition's selection brings together eight projects showcasing different ways of reinterpreting ceramic heritage and translating it into contemporary design:

Drawing on Valencia's ceramic tradition, Buit Valencia, a brand founded by designer Xavier Lledó, will present a large-scale mural made using the Yperfectas collection, designed by Cual Estudio. The installation combines art, architecture, and craftsmanship through a three-dimensional composition that appears to gradually fade across the surface.

Artesanía no Prato, an initiative launched by the Artesanía de Galicia Public Foundation, has been exploring collaboration between Galician craftspeople and gastronomy professionals since 2013. Recognised with the 2025 National Craftsmanship Award in the Promociona for Public Entities category, the project has produced unique pieces and hospitality collections that enrich the dining experience and help convey each establishment's identity. Craft Lab will showcase a selection of works created by Susana Anta, Barreiros Artesanía, Laura Delgado, Alberto Lista, Paula Ojea, and Witchneeds for various chefs and restaurants.

Artist Nuria Blanco will present Banquete, a wall composition comprising 36 hand-painted ceramic plates. The work explores the relationship between art and functionality: together, the pieces form a single image, yet each can be removed from the wall and used as tableware, blurring the boundaries between everyday objects and artistic creation.

Cerámica a Mano Alzada, a brand run by Miguel Bartolomé and Cristina Serrano, will showcase a reinterpretation of the traditional ceramic lattice screen. Its design transforms a pattern historically built brick by brick into a pre-assembled stoneware module that simplifies installation and offers high durability for outdoor architectural applications.

Ceramic artist Aniana Heras explores the relationship between sculpture, design, and traditional artisanal techniques. Her creations, characterised by a strong graphic and architectural identity, employ techniques such as wheel-throwing, coiling, and ceramic slab construction to create structures with a futuristic appearance. At Craft Lab, she will present a wall mural made using coiling techniques, alongside a selection of her decorative pieces.

Lighting will also play a prominent role, thanks to Pott Project, a brand founded by Miguel Ángel García Belmonte and rooted in the pottery tradition of Totana, Murcia. Its lighting designs combine artisanal techniques with contemporary design, exploring the relationship between material, craftsmanship, and light. Different areas of Craft Lab will be illuminated by its Caló, Conic, Nais, Okina, and Totana models.

Risco Estudio, a project by ceramic artist and industrial designer Pablo Rodríguez, draws on the heritage of traditional pottery in Buño, Galicia, to develop creations that bring together art, design, and craftsmanship. Designed to be integrated into interior design projects, its pieces reinterpret traditional techniques and forms through a contemporary visual language. The space will feature one of its wall sculptures, lighting designs, and large-format pieces.

Completing the selection is todobarro, a Málaga-based brand founded by Pedro Rosa that combines artisanal production in Nasrid kilns with contemporary design collections inspired by the cultural heritage of its surroundings. For Craft Lab, design studio Leblume has created a large-scale, three-dimensional mural using the Vélez collection, inspired by the geometry of traditional architecture in the Axarquía region. The installation demonstrates the collection's compositional potential beyond its usual applications in flooring and wall coverings.

Tachy Mora: a specialist perspective on the connections between design and craftsmanship

The selection and curation of Craft Lab are overseen by Tachy Mora, a cultural journalist and independent curator specialising in design, architecture, craftsmanship, and the interplay between these disciplines.

With a career in cultural journalism dating back to 1998, Mora is a regular contributor to El País's Sunday supplement and Icon Design. In 2011, she published Artesanía Española de Vanguardia (Lunwerg), a book that subsequently inspired an international touring exhibition. Her curatorial projects include Escenarios de un Futuro Cercano, for Valencia's Centre del Carme, and the retrospective Héctor Serrano: El viaje entremedias, presented in 2025 at the Central de Diseño at Matadero Madrid and at Feria Hábitat Valencia.

Her vision for Craft Lab focuses on a generation of creators who draw on memory and artisanal knowledge as a starting point for innovation, championing ceramics as an expressive and functional resource for shaping new spaces.

Interiors Living Lab: experimentation applied to hotel and restaurant design

Craft Lab is part of Interiors Living Lab, a project by AMBIT Living Spaces Cluster that brings together different experimental spaces focused on hotel and restaurant design. Through initiatives combining interior design, materials, craftsmanship, and emerging technologies, this laboratory aims to explore new solutions, generate knowledge, and anticipate developments in the hospitality sector.

With this new edition of Craft Lab, interihotel highlights the role of contemporary craftsmanship in creating spaces that convey identity and culture. This approach champions tradition not as a static remnant of the past, but as a source of inspiration for developing new creative solutions and creating meaningful experiences.

More information at interihotel.com/craft-lab