Author: eki

Bromalgae: izaki ñimiñoen iraultza erraldoia

Posted on by eki

BROMALGAE

Play Video
Hitzak: Nahia Zubeldia Argazkiak: Mito & Pierre Leibar
FB
PN
X

Share 

Izaki ñimiñoaren iraultza erraldoia

Duela zenbait hamarkada, Barakaldo burdingintzaren eta industria astunaren bihotza zen, Bizkaiko Labe Garaietan burdina eta altzairua ekoizten ziren garaian. Jarduera horrek euskal ekonomia anitz bultzatu zuen; baina, aldi berean, kutsadura handia eragin zuen. Denborarekin, industria gainbehera joan zen, eta Bilbok eta inguruek eraldaketa handia bizi izan zuten: ingurumen-politika berriak eta garapen iraunkorraren aldeko proiektuak loratzen hasi ziren.

Bizkaiko Labe Garaiak 1902an sortua Barakaldon

Hain zuzen, Euskal Herrian gertatzen ari den iraultza berdea ez dator oihanetatik edo laborantzatik soilik. Itsasoko organismo ñimiño batzuk, mikroalgak, etorkizun jasangarri baterako bidea zabaltzen ari dira. Hori da Bilboko Bromalgae enpresa berritzailearen apustua: mikroalgen indarra baliatzea ingurumen-erronka handiei buru egiteko: airearen kutsadura murriztea, karbono dioxidoa xurgatzea eta energia berriztagarriak sustatzea.

Mikroalgak: itsasoko urre berdea
Txikiak izanik ere, mikroalgak “superlandareak” dira: karbono dioxidoa xurgatzeko eta oxigenoa askatzeko gaitasun handia dute, eta ezin lasterrago biderkatzen dira (egunero bikoizten edo hirukoizten dira!). Beraz, zinez emankorrak eta interesgarriak dira industriaren, elikaduraren eta energiaren arloetarako. Planeta oxigenatzen duen prozesu natural bera baliatuz, Bromalgae mikroalgek eskaintzen duten teknologia garatzen ari da, kutsadura murrizteko eta airea garbitzeko.

Adibidez, hiri kutsatuetan aire garbiagoa arnasteko, alga-zuhaitzak sortu dituzte. GarbiAir izeneko sistema horrek, mikroalgen bidez, CO₂ eta NOx gasak harrapatzen ditu. Barakaldon eta Baionan egin dituzten lehen proben arabera, emaitzak harrigarriak dira: karbono dioxidoa %30-40 eta nitrogeno oxidoak %70 apal daitezke. Baliteke, beraz, hirietako karriketan laster alga-zuhaitzak loratzen ikustea.

Baina kutsaduraren erronkak ez dira karriketara mugatzen. Industria handiek isurtzen dituzten gasak ere arazo larria dira. Hor ere, mikroalgek badute zer egin. GarbiNox sistemak, lantegietan instalatu mikroalga-erreaktoreen bidez, kutsadura iragazten du, gas toxikoak xurgatu eta aire garbiagoa botaz. Teknologia horrek, ingurumena babesteaz gain, enpresak laguntzen ditu arlo horretako araudi zorrotzak betetzen.

Mikroalgek bestelako aplikazio anitz ere badute. Horiek guziak ikertu eta ustiatu ahal izateko, Valga proiektuaren baitan, Bromalgae mikroalgak eskala industrialean ekoizten ari da. Mikroalgen aplikazioak nekazaritzatik hasi eta hondakin, osasun edo kosmetika industriaraino zabal daitezke.

Bromalgae bi egia frogatzen ari da. Batetik, hiri edo eskualde baten halabeharra alda daitekeela eta garai batez kutsatzaile zena ingurumenaren aldeko eragile nagusi bilaka daitekeela; eta, bestetik, mikroalgek aterabide praktiko eta eraginkorrak eskaintzen dituztela erronka ekologiko handiei buru egiteko.

Baina, teknologia iraultzaile horiek bideragarriak izatea ez da lan samurra eta funtsezko zenbait erronka oraino gainditzekoak dira. Ekoizpena eskala industrialera pasatzeaz gain, mikroalgen onurak ezagutarazi eta zabaltzea beharrezkoa da, bai herritarren kontzientzia pizteko, bai enpresak alternatiba jasangarrien alde bultzatzeko. Eta, enpresa pribatuez gain, politika publikoek ere lagundu behar dute, airearen kalitatea eta ingurumenaren babesa lehenetsiz.

Mikroalgen bidea etorkizunerantz
Bromalgaek erakusten du etorkizun berdeago eta jasangarriagorako bidea teknologia berritzailea eta naturaren indarra uztartzean dagoela.
Mikroalgak ez dira irtenbide miragarria, baizik eta zientziak eta ingeniaritzak kutsadura murrizteko eta ingurumena babesteko laguntzen ahal duten aukera erreal bat.

Euskal Herritik mundura, Bromalgaeren lanak agerian uzten du itsasoko organismo ñimiño horiek eragin erraldoia izan dezaketela gure planetaren osasunean. Mikroalgen potentzialaren hazia, hein handi batean, oraino lurpean dago, eta teknologia, kontzientziazioa eta araudi egokia, hiruak ezinbestekoak izanen zaizkio zuhaitz osasuntsuaren gisan garatu eta hedatzeko.

In the forests of Gipuzkoa, a small hut with big ambitions

Posted on by eki

In the forests of Gipuzkoa, a small hut with big ambitions

Text: Christine Holmes Photos: Biderbost Photo
FB
PN
X

Share 

The architects at Babelstudio in Bilbao have spearheaded an ambitious renovation project in the heart of the Sierra de Aralar, transforming a 20m2 tool shed into a cosy pied-à-terre.

Bringing some great ideas to life in a (very) small space: is this the architecture of the future?

In recent years, images of small huts in the middle of nature have invaded social networks, blogs and magazines. In a world teeming with information, people and pressure, the need for nature has, for many, become insatiable. This is what brought a creative couple from Bilbao to the offices of Andrea García, Michael Schmidt and Andrea Emmanuel, founders of the architectural firm Babelstudio.

Owners of a tool shed nestling in a wood in the Sierra de Aralar, on the edge of Gipuzkoa, they aspired to turn it into a place where they could enjoy a well-deserved weekend break, where they could do odd jobs, rest after a hike and even spend the night. The cottage designed by Babelstudio reveals all the ingenuity required in the architecture of small spaces.

“The professionals at Babelstudio therefore had to ensure that no unusable spaces were created, that every square metre was optimised.”

An optimised space that preserves the heart and soul of a cabin from yesteryear.
“The hut was in a serious state of deterioration,” explain the architects. “The structure had stability issues and the building’s envelope was neither insulated nor weatherproof.” In order to comply with current standards, they had to rethink the materials and structure of the cabin, while retaining its original shape and volume in the aim of creating a habitable cabin of 20 m2, no more, no less. The challenge was an appealing one: at a time when space and budgets are increasingly limited, the architecture of small buildings is the one that gives the greatest freedom to inventiveness and creativity.

The professionals at Babelstudio therefore had to ensure that no unusable spaces were created, that every square metre was optimised. This resulted in two spaces of equivalent size: the first, a cosy living room/bedroom around a stove, with large bay windows offering a glimpse of the surrounding greenery. The second has a small dry toilet and a carpentry workshop that literally opens onto the forest, thanks to a large door that takes up the entire facade.

A project that blends into its environment
Another architectural challenge that is equally in tune with the times is renovation with the greatest respect for nature. To achieve this, the creative minds at Babelstudio chose to use local pine for the floors, beams and interior and exterior walls. The roof is made of corrugated iron. A “raw” look that is nevertheless jazzed up by the black paint on the entire exterior of the cabin, which gives the impression of both a contrast and a fusion with the surrounding nature.

With this mini-cabin in the forest of Gipuzkoa, Babelstudio responds to our growing need not just to do well, but to do even better. Is the future small?

This book is an ode to the beauty of nature

Posted on by eki

This book is an ode to the beauty of nature

Text: Christine Holmes Photos: Lur Garden
FB
PN
X

Share 

Iñigo Segurola’s book Lur Garden looks back at the genesis of his “garden of gardens” that he has been shaping for ten years in the Oiartzun valley.

But since a garden is nothing without its gardener, the Basque landscape designer also reveals a lot about himself. It is the story of a man in search of order and beauty in the heart of a free and indomitable nature.

As a child, Iñigo Segurola was one of those children who picked flowers on every school outing. He used to say that when he grew up, he would write “books about trees”. Already passionate about plants, he tells how moved he was when, in science class, the seeds he had placed in damp cotton finally germinated.

Fifty years later, he has created a garden that is unique in the Basque Country, an “oddity” in the local landscape. Above all, he has published Lur Garden, the “book about trees” he had dreamed of.

“I always say that this garden was like adopting quintuplets: when one sleeps, the other cries, another becomes uncontrollable, and so on,” – Iñigo Segurola

Lur Garden, the 10-year genesis of a book
Lur Garden is a collection of 16 themed gardens; a “garden of gardens” spread over two hectares in the heart of a small valley in Oiartzun. Some would say it is the Garden of Eden. However, when Iñigo Segurola and his partner Juan Iriarte found this land ten years ago, it was just a meadow where a few cows grazed, bordered by the Sarobe stream.

At the head of Lur Paisajistak since 1994, the visionary landscape architects of Gipuzkoa fell in love with the place and decided to acquire it in order to experiment with their art without constraints.

As the pages turn, Segurola reveals the stages of the project. We learn that the idea of creating a succession of round, rather than straight-lined, gardens emerged from Juan Iriarte’s sketch of a fried egg. Inspired by metal rings found on the site, Iriarte sketched a garden conceived not as an extension of a building, but as islands in the middle of nature.

The photographs, by Segurola himself and by Clair Takacs, Marta Etxebarria and Unai Bellami, offer a visual journey through these contrasting spaces. We meander from the garden of mirrors, soberly organised around a stretch of water devoid of aquatic plants, to the multi-coloured and luxuriant garden of extravagance.

Segurola opens the doors to his inner garden
Lur Garden is organised in two parts: the gardener and then the garden. For Segurola, the relationship between the two is visceral. “I always say that this garden was like adopting quintuplets: when one sleeps, the other cries, another becomes uncontrollable, and so on,” he says. The first eight years of this creation were like an obsessive relationship, in which he admits to having forgotten himself to the point of “hitting rock bottom”. He compares the garden to a child forever dependent on its parent.

Only yoga and meditation freed him from this interdependence and enabled him to rebuild himself. Rather than a Creator, he then took the place of an Observer in these gardens full of plants and animals, which in the end were not so dependent on him.

You can buy the book here!

Orbea: from canons to bicycles

Posted on by eki
 

ORBEA

Text: Christine Holmes / Photos: Orbea
FB
PN
X

Share 

Founded in 1840 in Eibar, Orbea Hermanos, a company specialising in armaments, embodies the golden age of this industry in the region.

The original Orbea Hermanos emblem, which combined the initials of the company, is engraved on a multitude of weapons around the world.

A two-wheeler turn
In 1926, the company made a radical change: gun barrels became bicycle frames. Eibar, the historic heart of the gunsmith’s business, was transformed into the nerve centre of bicycle manufacturing. Orbea joined companies such as BH, which had begun this transition in 1923. The company divided its activities: Orbea y Compañia, based in Eibar, concentrated on bicycles, while Hijos de Orbea, in Vitoria/Gasteiz, continued to produce cartridges.

This period also saw the rise of cycling in the region. In 1910, Eibar organised its first race, Eibar-Elgoibar-Eibar, 25 years before the Tour of Spain was created.

A two-wheeler turn
In 1926, the company made a radical change: gun barrels became bicycle frames. Eibar, the historic heart of the gunsmith’s business, was transformed into the nerve centre of bicycle manufacturing. Orbea joined companies such as BH, which had begun this transition in 1923. The company divided its activities: Orbea y Compañia, based in Eibar, concentrated on bicycles, while Hijos de Orbea, in Vitoria/Gasteiz, continued to produce cartridges.

This period also saw the rise of cycling in the region. In 1910, Eibar organised its first race, Eibar-Elgoibar-Eibar, 25 years before the Tour of Spain was created.

“This period also saw the rise of cycling in the region.”

The cooperative, a new start
Despite its initial success, Orbea went through a crisis in the 1960s. In 1969, on the verge of bankruptcy, the company was taken over by its employees in the form of a cooperative. This new corporate model enabled the company to bounce back. In 1975, the factory moved to Malaria, reinforcing its commitment to professional cycling with its own professional team.

A brand at the cutting edge of innovation
Orbea is constantly innovating and expanding. Today, the brand offers a varied range of racing, mountain, triathlon, city and electric bikes, as well as helmets and accessories. In each discipline, it offers customisable models, like the Orca, an ultra-light road bike with integrated cabling and a frame weighing just 833g. This model perfectly embodies the balance between aesthetics and technical features.

Riding tall in the saddle
With subsidiaries all over the world (USA, France, Germany, Australia, etc.), Orbea is a key player in the bicycle industry. Still based in Mallabia, Orbea combines long-established expertise with innovation, powering the company forward to conquer new summits.

Hemendik liburua: Euskal Herriko 50 objektu ikonikoren istorioak

More Articles

View All

In the forests of Gipuzkoa, a small hut with big ambitions

This book is an ode to the beauty of nature

Alki lantegi berria Larresoro

Alki unveils its new headquarters: a sustainable workshop with a showroom and shop

“Ombuaren Itzala”, or in the shadow of Otaño, the bertsolari

B.Lux lamps: Some enlightening and multi-faceted ideas

Posted on by eki

B.LUX

Text: Christine Holmes / Photos: B.Lux
FB
PN
X

Share 

Founded in 1979 in Markina, Biscay the B.Lux lighting company was a pioneer in an industrial context traditionally dominated by steelmaking and machine tools.

From the outset, it distinguished itself by its innovative approach, combining local manufacture, exceptional design and an international outlook. B.Lux favours local, high-quality production, carried out entirely at its Gizaburuaga factory, which doubled in capacity at the end of the 1980s.

Guillermo Capdevilla design pioneer in the Basque Country with a team of designers at the DZ Diseinu Zentrua centre in Bilbao – 1985
Cover of the first catalogue for the Belux System Collection – 1980

Design at the heart of the strategy
Right from the start, B.Lux placed design centre stage by calling upon talented creators. In the 1980s, Guillermo Capdevilla, a pioneer of industrial design in the Basque Country, led the way with innovative creations that would leave a lasting mark on the identity of B.Lux.

He was soon joined by other great names in design, such as Jorge Pensi, Miguel Ángel Ciganda and, more recently, David Abad, Stone Designs and Tim Brauns. Together, they develop timeless lighting designs that regularly win international awards.

Architectural and outdoor projects
Since 2001, B.Lux has been developing lighting systems for large-scale architectural projects, working with renowned architects such as Frank O. Gehry, Patxi Mangado and Dominique Perrault. At the same time, the company offers models for outdoor lighting, some of which, like the Kanpazar lamp (Jon Santacoloma), have won international design awards.

Designed in 1979 by Guillermo Capdevilla, the Belux System Collection was reissued in 2019.

Aspen Collection (Werner Aisslinger): with dual lampshades in matt-finish tones that can be combined for sophisticated lighting, both direct and diffused.

Belux System (Guillermo Capdevilla, 1979): a timeless collection of articulated lamps, reissued in 2019.

“With a presence in over 50 countries, B.Lux combines local know-how with a global vision”

An international reference
With a presence in over 50 countries, B.Lux combines local know-how with a global vision. The complementarity between Basque industrial know-how and the talent of local and international designers has enabled this family-run business to become a benchmark in the world of designer lighting.

More Articles

View All

In the forests of Gipuzkoa, a small hut with big ambitions

This book is an ode to the beauty of nature

Alki lantegi berria Larresoro

Alki unveils its new headquarters: a sustainable workshop with a showroom and shop

“Ombuaren Itzala”, or in the shadow of Otaño, the bertsolari

Notox: lehen surf taula ekologikoak

Posted on by eki

NOTOX

Text: Christine Holmes / Photos: Mito & Notox
FB
PN
X

Share 

Pierre Pomiers and Benoît Rameix, surfing enthusiasts and colleagues in a robotics company, decided to take action.

True harmony with nature
At the turn of the millennium, surfing, despite its symbiotic relationship with nature, revealed its shameful side. The manufacture of surfboards generates a great deal of pollution: a 3 kg board produces 6 kg hazardous waste, and the materials needed to make it travel an average of 9,000 km.

Faced with this reality, Pierre Pomiers and Benoît Rameix, surfing enthusiasts and colleagues in a robotics company, decided to take action.

In 2006, they founded Notox in Anglet, an innovative workshop that puts the health of its craftsmen and the environment at the heart of its priorities. Working with the occupational health department, they equipped their workshop to minimise environmental pollution: extraction of fine particles, noise reduction, substitution of toxic solvents and waste recycling.

The first eco-friendly boards
In 2010, Notox launched its first ecological surfboard made from linen fibre. Its recycled polystyrene core and biosourced epoxy resin (56% plant-based) drastically reduce its ecological footprint: materials are sourced from 700 km away and 75% of the 4 kg waste produced per board is recycled. This innovation also guarantees optimum performance in terms of lightness, vibration absorption and manoeuvrability.

Contouring and sanding a cork board

“Combining technical expertise, ecological responsibility and accessibility, Notox embodies a new vision of surfing.”

The cork revolution
In 2016, after three years of research, Notox created its cork board, ideal for beginner and intermediate surfers. Shock-resistant and non-slip, cork eliminates the need for wax. The board was an immediate success and now accounts for over 50% of production.

A fast-growing brand
Notox’s creations, exhibited at numerous trade fairs and at the Milan World Expo in 2015, are attracting international attention. Today, 20% of sales are exported, and the brand is planning to open a licensed workshop in Australia.
Combining technical expertise, ecological responsibility and accessibility, Notox embodies a new vision of surfing, where passion and respect for the environment can finally surf the wave together.

More Articles

View All

In the forests of Gipuzkoa, a small hut with big ambitions

This book is an ode to the beauty of nature

Alki lantegi berria Larresoro

Alki unveils its new headquarters: a sustainable workshop with a showroom and shop

“Ombuaren Itzala”, or in the shadow of Otaño, the bertsolari

Loreak Mendian gabardine: the desire for great summits

Posted on by eki

LOREAK MENDIAN

Text: Naia Zubeldia / Photos: Loreak Mendian
FB
PN
X

Share

In 1992, Xabi Zirikiain, who had just graduated in mechanical engineering, returned to Donostia-San Sebastián after a sabbatical year marked by an Atlantic crossing and a trip to India.

Inspired by his experiences, he began producing flocked T-shirts bearing the slogan “Loreak Mendian” (mountain flowers). In 1995, with his friend Victor Serna, he opened a small shop in the port of Donostia. Xabi designed the clothes, Victor sold them. Their offering: an urban style reflecting a closeness to nature.

Original shop at San Sebastian harbour

The brand has carved out its path
Loreak Mendian quickly became a fixture on the local fashion scene. Its floral sweatshirts attracted a young and varied clientele in both the south and north of the Basque Country. True to its values, from the outset the brand offered unisex clothing inspired by cultural and social trends. In 2011, it employed sixty people and ran twelve shops.

A stylistic shift
From 2015, Loreak Mendian abandoned its initial positioning between surfwear and streetwear for more sophisticated collections. The style became graphic and chic, while remaining true to the brand’s identity encompassing creativity, territorial roots and universality. This move towards a more mature aesthetic is embodied in the Ura (water) gabardine raincoat.

“Available in neutral or electric shades, Ura quickly became one of the brand’s flagship products”

Ura: an emblematic item
Inspired by the Basque Country’s rainy weather, this gabardine coat combines minimalist elegance with technical sophistication. Made from a waterproof British woven cotton fabric, it provides protection from the rain without the shiny finish of an oilskin. Available in neutral or electric shades, Ura quickly became one of the brand’s flagship products.

An endless horizon
Today, Loreak Mendian is making a name for itself in international markets and is turning its attention to major retailers. In 2019, the brand merged with the Ternua Group, which specialises in textiles and sports equipment, and is committed to an ecological approach. Present in 50 countries, Loreak Mendian continues to broaden its branches without ever abandoning its roots.

The Hemendik book: The History of 50 Iconic Objects from the Basque Country

More Articles

View All

In the forests of Gipuzkoa, a small hut with big ambitions

This book is an ode to the beauty of nature

Alki lantegi berria Larresoro

Alki unveils its new headquarters: a sustainable workshop with a showroom and shop

“Ombuaren Itzala”, or in the shadow of Otaño, the bertsolari

“Ombuaren Itzala”, or in the shadow of Otaño, the bertsolari

Posted on by eki

“Ombuaren Itzala”, or in the shadow of Otaño, the bertsolari

Text: Christine Holmes Photos: Ombuaren hitzala
FB
PN
X

Share

With the support of public participation, this film has returned the cultural heritage bequeathed by Otaño to the Basque people.

“Ombuaren Itzala”, made by actor and director Patxi Biskert, aims to raise awareness of the life and work of the bertsolari (improvisational singer) and poet Pello Mari Otaño Barriola (Zizurkil 1857 – Rosario, Argentina 1910).

Although Otaño occupied a place of honour in Basque culture for a long time, this once-leading figure gradually fell into oblivion. The film, produced by Eguzki Art Zinema, aims to revive the memory of Otaño and pass his works on to younger generations.

Origins and development of the project
Patxi Biskert has been working tirelessly for many years to bring the film “Ombuaren Itzala” (in the shade of the ombú tree) to life. To finance the project, he set up a large-scale collective and participatory process, involving citizens, municipalities, cultural associations and the educational network. The project, which came about thanks to institutional support and ticket pre-sales, has been shown around the Basque Country since November 2024.

Content and plot of the film
The film is set between 1889 and 1910, Otaño’s most productive years. At that time, he emigrated with his family to Argentina, where he wrote many poems and bertsos that would make him famous among the Basque diaspora. Phytolacca dioica, commonly known as the ombú, is a remarkable tree that grows in the Argentine Pampas. It inspired Otaño to write one of his most recognised poems, which made it a symbol of nostalgia linked to exile.

“The film “Ombuaren Itzala” adds to our collective memory, by highlighting the figure of Pello Mari Otaño and his contributions to Basque culture.”

Production and distribution
The film was shot in Zizurkil and Argentina, Otaño’s two main places of residence.
It was previewed at the church of San Millan in Zizurkil on 30 November 2024, in the presence of its director Patxi Biskert, lead actor Joseba Usabiaga and other actors and operators who participated in the project.

It is currently on tour in several towns in Hegoalde, the Southern Basque Country. Although no date has yet been set for a screening in Iparralde, the Northern Basque Country. Let’s hope we will have the opportunity to see it in our cinemas soon.

Moreover, the film will not stop at the cinema doors. As a fitting return, the documentary has been designed to be shown in other community and cultural venues in the Basque Country and used in schools in the region.

The film “Ombuaren Itzala” adds to our collective memory, by highlighting the figure of Pello Mari Otaño and his contributions to Basque culture and putting them in the spotlight they deserve.

This documentary is also further proof of the strength and solidarity of the Basque community in preserving its cultural heritage. Le film « Ombuaren Itzala » vient alimenter notre mémoire collective, en repéchant la figure de Pello Mari Otaño et sa contribution [CH : contributionS ???] à la culture basque pour les mettre sous la lumière qu’elles méritent.

Otaño wrote at the end of one of his bertsos, “I am motivated by the desire to help the Basque language. The subjects available to me are modest, I have very little to say, but I will happily spend my nights, days, weeks and holidays on it. My brothers, I ask you for a small place in the Basque Country”.

Ama euskerak hau esan zidan
jarririk begi alaiak.
Horregatikan nakar honera
berari lagundu nahiak.
Gutxi nezake, oso txikiak
dira nik dauzkadan gaiak,
bainan pozkiroz egingo ditut
gauak, egun, aste, jaiak;
leku pixka bat Euskal Herrian
eskatzeizuet anaiak.

(…)
Thanks to Patxi Biskert, Eguzki Art Zinema, and the operators and citizens involved, the place of Otaño is now assured in the Basque Country so dear to his heart.

Palmadera: small surfaces with big ambitions

Posted on by eki

PALMADERA

Text: Naia Zubeldia / Photos: Mito
FB
PN
X

Share

In 1962, Palmadera set up in Bera/Vera de Bidasoa, Navarre, bringing with it an innovative German technique: the manufacture of moulded plywood objects.

The products, made from sheets of beechwood impregnated with phenolic resin and compressed under high pressure, quickly gained popularity. The robustness and versatility of these materials made them indispensable in many settings: from school furniture to hotel trays.

Continuous improvement
In the 1990s, Palmadera modernised its processes by introducing Kraft paper in the middle layers and improving the finishes with oak veneer. This material, which is both aesthetic and practical, became a standard in the hotel sector. In 2005, in partnership with Zoocreative the design studio, Palmadera launched an award-winning collection of dishes and trays, winning over prestigious brands, such as Starbucks, McDonald’s and Zara Home, in search of personalised designs.

Architecture as a new horizon
The compression technology developed by Palmadera took on a new dimension in 1992, when wooden panels were used to clad pavilions at the Universal Expo in Seville. This success propelled the company into the architectural sector. The Palmadera Group, represented by its sister brand Parklex, develops laminated wood panels capable of withstanding the most extreme weather conditions.

University of Washington
Architect: Perkins + Will
Hall of Waterfront City – Chongqing
Architect: Shangai Tianhua
5 St Paul’s Square Liverpool
Architect: RHWL

“With 130 employees and a worldwide presence, Palmadera and Parklex are now key players in industrial design and architecture”

An innovation for architects
Parklex panels are becoming the preferred choice for demanding architectural projects. They can be used to create ventilated façades, curved walls, railings, false ceilings and ultra-resistant floors. Their versatility encourages architects to push the boundaries of creativity.

Prestigious projects around the world
Parklex laminated panels clad the walls of iconic buildings:
• Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
• Ricardo Bofill’s W Barcelona Hôtel.
• Jean Nouvel’s suites at Hôtel Silken Puerta América in Madrid.
• Christian de Portzamparc’s Hôtel de Région Rhône-Alpes.

They can also be found in international projects such as:
• 5 St Paul’s Square, Liverpool.
• Washington University in Seattle.
• Woodview Mews in Croydon.
• Hall of Waterfront City in Chongqing.
• Fast Lane Center in Tel Aviv.

A high-growth company
With 130 employees and a worldwide presence, Palmadera and Parklex are now key players in industrial design and architecture, combining tradition and innovation.

The Hemendik book: The History of 50 Iconic Objects from the Basque Country

More Articles

View All

In the forests of Gipuzkoa, a small hut with big ambitions

This book is an ode to the beauty of nature

Alki lantegi berria Larresoro

Alki unveils its new headquarters: a sustainable workshop with a showroom and shop

“Ombuaren Itzala”, or in the shadow of Otaño, the bertsolari