Execution: Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers of Spain.
Architecto: Juan Antonio Martínez
Quantity surveyor: Juan Broch
Construction company: Lubasa, SA
Work superintendent: Manuel Maireles

The construction of ASCER's new head office began in 1994 and ended in 1996. The trapezoidal and longitudinal site has an area of 3,918 square metres. 39.23 metres abut with street called Camino Caminás and 20.23 metres abut with the street called Ginjols, and the site has an average depth of 114 metres. It is located in the eastern zone of the suburban development of Castellón, next to Avenida del Mar, in a block with other institutional buildings, such as the Chamber of Commerce of IMPIVA-Alicer-CEEI.

The building is longitudinally shaped and is structured on a central vertical axis where the elevator, stairs and rest rooms are located and where the ground floor accesses meet, both the main staircase and the rear disabled persons' ramp. This axis articulates the two east and west wings where the different areas are laid out.

It has a semi-basement of 622 square metres, comprising a warehouse, facilities, three rooms and a meeting room, as well as the extension of the exhibition room.

The ground floor, measuring 691 square metres, comprises a conference room with a capacity for 147 people and simultaneous interpreting facilities, the lobby, reception and exhibition room.

The first floor, measuring 646 square metres, comprises six individual offices (pertaining to different work areas) and a General Room (offices) with a capacity for 12 people. The offices of the President, Secretary General and Board Meeting Room are also located on this floor.

The second floor, measuring 806 square metres, is divided into two large rooms for offices and future extensions.

COMMENTS ON THE BUILDING BY Juan Antonio Martínez (architect):

"The longitudinal shape of the site and its location, surrounded perimetrically by renown institutional buildings, made us consider a very formal project for a building with pure geometrical elements. This is how a vertical symmetrical axis was build, which divides both sides into a cylinder and cube that is perforated diagonally. To form a pinnacle, the last floor is built in the shape of a projecting parallelepiped. An endeavour was made to provide a milestone that would act as an inflexion-connection with neighbouring buildings and the urban atmosphere surrounding it, also making it easily recognizable by members and users.

On the other hand, it must clearly be seen that it is the house of ceramic manufacturers, which means that the nobility of the products must stand out in contrast to other classical materials such as stone, glass or aluminium. All these materials have been laid using state-of-the-art techniques. The ceramic surfacing was applied with elastic mortars, the stone was separated from the wall by means of metallic fixtures to allow ventilation and the wall curtain was built using structural glass.

The same was done inside, where an effort was made to combine different ceramic products for the floors and facing with marble or stainless steel, with an attempt to emphasize the possible combination of materials."

Through formal and organized style, ASCER's new head office represents a nucleus of activity made up by the entire ceramic tile manufacturing companies.

In an effort to be functional, the building occupies a rationalist architectural space that brings memories of the Bauhaus style of the twenties. It is thus demonstrated that with the use of different materials, such as stone, ceramics, concrete, marble, textile coverings, glass…, combined harmoniously and smoothly, a collectivist intention is transmitted.

The soberness of its structural lines, which reveal the inside of the building from outside, blends with the use of post-modern elements, which give it a tempered and tranquil look. The use of large formats such as the ceramic facing of the outside façade, also brings us closer to a classic world that is recovering styles of different periods. The main façade welcomes us with a wide staircase and, at its feet, we come across four high, solemn, naked and robust columns. Through them, a rose window is outlined, illuminating the whole structure of the building.

A structure comprising three purely geometrical elements: a cylinder and a diagonally perforated cube divided on both sides by a vertical axis. A pinnacle in the form of a projecting parallelepiped is located on top of them. By using these figures, the architect knew how to find meticulous solutions for space distribution.

This does not only mean a revolution in layouts, but also that the layout is intelligently structured such that it allows the building to be flexible and multifunctional. For example, the conference room is divided into two circular spaces with the possibility of independence in the event of simultaneous use, or the sliding doors of the main entrance, that allow communication with other areas.

This will to adapt it for practical use, giving priority to function, is mixed with the use of twenty-six types of tiles an other naked materials that fulfill their purpose of forming a whole through painting, sculpture and architecture.