Selected among the 30 brilliant minds of the magazine: ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
“Mosaic tile creates a liquid atmosphere since it refers directly to water. Its mainadvantage: it allows you to work with curved geometries with exceptionalresults”
If there is one thing that defines the projects by Studio Animal, it’s their daring, unconventionality and“good humour”. Experiential projects where creativity is always present. We wanted to know a littlemore about Javier Jiménez Iniesta, the studio creator, with a review of his career and most importantprojects, which have won prestigious international awards.
What was the project that started it all?And which project most defines the essence of the studio?
We began working with a great entrepreneur of the Ibiza nightlife. For many months we worked on anambitious project that, in the end, did not go ahead; but it was a great experience and some very niceproject did come out of it, including some bathrooms for a nightclub designed by Jean Nouvel.
I think the stores of the retail chain Munich, taken as a whole or as a single project of spatial identity, isthe project where we have grown and that helped us to find our way to understand and practicearchitecture. We’ve been working with Munich for 10 years and we have designed and executed over thirtyprojects with them.
Entrepreneur, creator, professor, architect.In which role does Javier Jiménez feel most comfortable?
You forgot to mention family and friends. We are a kind of ‘one-man-band’. Finding a healthy balancebetween all of these facets you mentioned is fundamental so as not to die trying. But, especially to enjoywhat we do on a daily basis, which is no easy thing to do.
In 2007, you graduated with an honours degree in Architecture. Did you always know what you wanted todo?
Yes. Or at least I was always sure that my place was on the creative side. I have to admit I envy my artistfriends very much and their freedom in creating their work. They don’t have to answer to anyone but themselves.
Studio Animal’s work has been awarded prestigious national and international awards, such as the FADInterior Design Award 2024 with Casa Nube or the International Media Award in China. Did you everimagine that you could achieve them? What do you think has been the secret of this brilliant career?
I think awards are the recognition of a process, of the effort within a career, actually; and not only yours,but that of your team and your customer, as well. Although of course a specific work is awarded, I believethat reaching the maturity to create a project with the quality to be recognised by an expert jury, such asthe FAD, involves long-term effort, commitment, enthusiasm and dedication to your work and your clients.In any case, awards have the importance they have. We can celebrate and then carry on working.
The media refer to Studio Animal refer as a trend setter, publishing articles on your interior design andephemeral architecture projects. Specifically, your latest project, “Casa Nube”, has been a cover story on“the New Interiors”. What makes this futuristic home so special?
I wouldn’t call it “futuristic”, although I understand why you say that. Before opening the large, curveddoors the space is neutral and diaphanous. Like Flash Gordon’s spaceship. But the reality of the home isvery different.
This home is actually very contemporary and, in fact, was designed for one person in mind: Elia. This is aunique home, something you will never find anywhere else. It’s a home with its own history, one that isintimately connected to its inhabitants: a woman and her child. Far from being a cold or minimalist space,it’s warm and pleasant, soft and playful, a space that embraces and welcomes you, with a special light andloads of personality, just like its owner.
With your modern and functionalist style,how do you imagine your own home of the future?
I live with my family in a beautiful house built in 1919; we did a renovation that was almost likeacupuncture. It’s a fantastic space where there is a very nice balance between new and old. Surroundedby books, design, art and toys. And many, many lamps.
Over the last 10 years you have done all types of projects: homes, offices, showrooms and even retailspaces for well-known brands like Munich. Now your stores, with your trademark, have become‘Instagramable’ spaces where visitors can enjoy unique experiences. How did you do it? What do you thinkare the keys to surprising the Generation Z?
Physical retail spaces have suddenly found themselves in competition with virtual spaces. If a brand cantransform this competition in something complementary, then it’s not a problem. More and more, it willbe essential for a brand to create an identity through their physical spaces. What people experience inthese spaces will become a differential value compared to the rest.
One of the stores you designed for Munich “The Pool” was a finalist in the Ascer Awards for Architectureand Interior Design. How did you manage to immerse us in a real pool without water?
Well, first of all, geometry and the use of colour, which is the hallmark of our projects. But, without a doubt,the material was an essential element. If you want to create a space that generates a sensation of floating,mosaic tiles are part of a common imagination of everyone who visits the space.
“The Pool” is striking because of its rounded surfaces. Precisely one of the characteristics of our mosaictiles is the size of the tesserae, allowing them to adapt perfectly to any surface, flat or curved.How wasthe experience of working with this material?
It was a beautiful project and there was a big discussion precisely about installing the mosaic tile. Thedesign required that there be no cuts in the pieces, and so for the curves the tesserae are installed in radialrows. This implies a lot of precision and mastery in installing the material. The results were fantastic, andthanks to the Novodecor team, we achieved the feeling of continuity and spatial fluidity that we wantedfor the project.
In one of your latest award-winning projects, “Casa Nube”, mosaic tiles really stand out as the mainmaterial. There is an explosion of colour in the bathroom with Hisbalit tesserae. What do you consider tobe the advantages of using mosaic tile in the bathrooms?
First, they create a liquid atmosphere. They refer directly to water. But, especially, they allow the creationof curved geometries, with exceptional results.
From the wide range of Hisbalit’s colours, why orange and pink?
One of the things I’m most happy with about this project is that Elia was very clear she didn’t want thishouse to look like any other. She participated in a lot of the design decisions for the project, with anamazing vision and capacity to take risks. Both decided on the colours for their rooms and bathrooms.
If you had to choose just one Hisbalit collection, which would it be?
We love solid colours, and so there is no doubt Unicolor is and will continue to be our collection of choice
We are deeply grateful to Javier Jimenez for taking the time to share his experiences with us. If you want to find out more about us, we invite you to continue exploring our blog. See you in the next post!