Following a successful appearance at this year’s Clerkenwell Design Week 2026, Tile of Spain unveiled The Secret Garden, an immersive installation by architecture and design studio LA ERRERÍA that explored the relationship between materiality, craftsmanship and sensory design through Spanish ceramics.
Installed within the historic grounds of the Order of St. John, the installation transformed the garden into a contemporary outdoor retreat designed for wonder, pause and observation. A setting for contemplation, interaction and reflection, and inspired by the traditional English garden, The Secret Garden reinterpreted the landscape through a distinctly modern lens, using ceramic surfaces to shape sculptural seating, architectural forms and tactile design interventions.
Bringing together innovation and products from 12 Spanish tile manufacturers, including Adex, Cevica, Cifre Cerámica, Cristacer, Decocer, El Barco, Harmony, La Platera, Porcelanosa, STN Cerámica, Undefasa and WOW Design, the installation highlighted the versatility and innovation of Spanish ceramic design while exploring the idea of materials that are “honestly made”.
The installation unfolded through four distinct parterres inspired by spring, summer, autumn and winter, creating a dynamic sensory journey defined by colour, texture and material contrast. Throughout the space, ceramics acted as both structural and expressive material, demonstrating how tiles continue to evolve beyond surface application into furniture, spatial design and architectural storytelling.
The project also reflected wider directions currently shaping the global interiors and design landscape. Increasingly, designers are embracing tactile materials, immersive environments and spaces that encourage emotional connection and slow living. Within this context, The Secret Garden demonstrated how ceramic design moves beyond functionality to create atmosphere, narrative and lived experiences.
Mireia Llinares, Promotion Director at ASCER, commented: “Clerkenwell Design Week is an important platform for creative exchange and material innovation, making it the ideal setting for The Secret Garden. The installation allowed us to showcase Spanish ceramics more experientially and architecturally, highlighting not only their technical performance but also their ability to shape how people interact with a space. We are seeing a growing appreciation for materials that offer authenticity, tactility and longevity, and ceramics naturally respond to this shift.”
Organised by IVACE International, the Chamber of Commerce of Castellón and ASCER, The Secret Garden offered visitors a moment of tranquility and discovery during the festival, while reinforcing the role of Spanish ceramics within contemporary architecture and design.
