‘Villa Amonita Lanzarote’ by OOOOX wins the APE Grupo Architecture Awards

The ‘Villa Amonita’ project, situated on the volcanic island of Lanzarote (Spain) and designed by Czech architects OOOOX, has won the APE Grupo Architecture Awards. Now in their second edition, these awards celebrate architectural excellence and the innovative use of ceramics.

For this year’s edition, the jury was chaired by architect Francisco Mangado, recipient of the Gold Medal for Fine Arts and a member of the French Academy of Architecture. He was joined by renowned interior designer Francesc Rifé and Susana Babiloni, president of the Castellón College of Architects. A total of 47 projects from across the globe were submitted, highlighting the competition’s international prominence.

During their deliberation, the jury commended ‘Villa Amonita Lanzarote’ for its balance ‘between the island’s natural, dramatic volcanic landscape and the smooth, white surfaces of the materials, particularly the ceramics used.’ ‘This contrast is evident not only on the exterior but also within the interior spaces,’ remarked the jury’s report.

‘The architects have created a beautiful and captivating dialogue between nature and construction, between context and artifice, where the new elements blend seamlessly,’ the deliberation added. The ‘elegant yet simple use of colours and materials’ also earned high praise. ‘In essence, the project suggests just how alluring and delicate life on the island of Lanzarote can be,’ concluded the jury’s evaluation.

The jury highlighted the versatility and richness of ceramics by awarding an honourable mention to ‘Restaurante Caruso’ in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), designed by the local architecture studio Arquimilio.

The jury commended ‘the freshness of the intervention and the intention to create a distinctive language, resulting in a design that is both intense and undeniably striking.’ They emphasised ‘the successful creation of a space where one can genuinely enjoy spending time.’

‘Beneath the bold references to imagery and elements from the local and popular traditions of the Caribbean, a subtle approach emerges, revealing a distinctive and uninhibited style for crafting interior spaces,’ the jury noted. In this context, they added that ‘the scenographic and mannerist intensity, along with the reinterpretation of “the popular” introduced by the designers, is particularly captivating.’

The APE Grupo Architecture Awards welcome professionals and projects from around the world, offering a monetary prize of 5,000 euros.

To get all the details about the awards, feel free to visit the website.