The historical centre of Cuenca, located in the heart of Spain, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The passage of time and the city’s surroundings have shaped an urban architecture the greatest example of which is the well-known Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses), a group of three Gothic-style residential buildings on a cliff overlooking the Huécar river.

The Casas Colgadas, which date back to the 16th century, have been restored on many occasions to maintain their essence to the present day. The latest restoration has been carried out by the Redondo Soria Arquitectos studio, which has performed a complete refurbishment of the outdoor and indoor spaces, areas that also house the Spanish Abstract Art Museum and the Casas Colgadas restaurant.

Respect for the historical heritage, the restoration and optimisation of the spaces, and their appropriate accessibility have been the main aims of this challenging refurbishment project in which Cosentino Natural Stone has been used for different surfaces of the restaurant, such as the flooring, cladding and furniture.

As an extension of the historical group of buildings with a marked Gothic character, both the museum and the restaurant adopt different urban features and bring them inside the building – the staircases. These single flight staircases in Negro Zimbawe granite with a vintage finish flow from the mezzanine level of the dining room to welcome the user and take them to the upper floor, as if they were a continuation of the floor, to one of the dining rooms, known as the Sala Negra.

A wine cellar has been created in the space previously intended for toilets, and Ónix Miel in Polished finish has been chosen for a high table. The result is a stunning piece of design that stands out in an intimate space for wine tasting.

Another of the dining rooms, the Sala Pétrea, has a powerful and abstract design, with granite and geometric materials as the main features. The use of Pacific Grey for flooring, as well as wall cladding and the central table, has achieved an impressive room that brings the gothic style of the streets into the restaurant.

One of the major project refurbishments has taken place on the second floor, where there used to be a house with a space under cover for storage, in disuse and in very poor condition. The framing has been demolished to make the space look bigger, creating a geometry similar to the main hall of the Spanish Abstract Art Museum and trying to recreate the textures, light and colour of the so-called Sala Blanca, where the Blanco Thassos colour has been used for flooring, also in Natural Stone and in Polished finish.

All in all, the refurbishment of the Casas Colgadas together with the museum and the restaurant has achieved harmony between the historical and heritage outside and the artistic and culinary experience offered inside this iconic architectural landmark.

Among the 250 companies housed on the 2,800-hectare Research Triangle Park corporate campus in North Carolina, a recent project stands out for its innovative use of design to create a space for collaboration, creativity and interaction. Elisa Christopher, from Phillips Architecture design studio, was commissioned for this project in which the company wanted to give a new look to a lobby and staircase area using Dekton by Cosentino.

The client wanted a material that would surprise potential and existing employees and create a striking appearance at first glance. The designer had already worked with Cosentino in the past and thought that it would be the ideal material to add character and elegance to the space. At Cosentino’s industrial park in Almería, Christopher was able to see the product first hand and discover the endless design possibilities that Dekton has to offer. Taking advantage of its technical and aesthetic properties on such a large campus was a challenge for her and she jumped at the chance.

This eight storey building, whose façade stands out in the landscape, is situated in the residential neighbourhood Aguas Férreas, in Lugo (Spain). For its design, “one of the basic premises of the developer, Dmanán Viviendas, was to design and execute an environmentally friendly building with an appearance that would stand out from its surroundings”, explains architect Patricia Montes from Aringal SL, the architecture and engineering firm in charge of the project. Therefore, from the very beginning of the project, Aringal’s work focused on combining the client’s objectives with the philosophy of its own company, which is very committed to incorporating sustainability into its projects.

The majestic appearance of the façades and their clean design gives this building a unique character. “The straight forms, terraces, window openings and materials used are its unique features”, says architect Patricia Montes. Two materials were combined in the façades of this building, creating a play of textures: Dekton Edora, a light grey shade with a minimalist look, and Corten steel.

Drita means light in Albanian. But a very special light, like the one reflected by the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea and the creamy colour of Albania’s sandy beaches. Drita Kafè is a small café which recreates an atmosphere of idyllic nature and endless summer in Piana degli Albanesi, a small mountain village embedded in Sicily and founded over five centuries ago by Albanians.

History, tradition and modernity come together in this café to offer the typical Sicilian ‘cannoli’, as well as a variety of local pastries and cigars. At Drita Kafè everything is designed to please the senses. And here, the Dekton surface, in its striking Entzo colour, plays a perfect role.

Although the White House residential lobby was fully completed in March 2020, the creative process had been brewing in the mind of its designer, Shiri Levy, for many months. It all started during a visit to Cosentino's headquarters in Almeria. Levy was invited to see the latest product innovations and their countless applications. The designer was so fascinated by Dekton that, as soon as she returned to Israel, she decided to return to Cosentino's factories in Almeria, but this time accompanied by her site manager. On this second visit, they chose the finishes and quantities needed for the execution of the project.

As it could not be otherwise, two different shades of white were used in the White House: Dekton Aura, with strong grey veining and featuring a fold out design; and Dekton Zenith, a solid Nordic white, with no veining or texture. Classicism and modernity go hand in hand to create an elegant and imposing lobby.

In this way, the designer succeeded in responding to the project brief: to create an impressive and timeless space that combines innovation and elegance.

Designed by Wilson Associates, Haidilao’s newest outlet at Marina Square mall presents an exceptionally futuristic dining experience with a personalised menu, immersive dining experience with sound and light projection, and robot servers, on top of its signature services.

The restaurant’s theatrical dining experience requires a sound design built with high quality, durable material, hence the designer’s choice to use Dekton and Silestone in its busiest areas. The interior design incorporates no less than 180 slabs of Dekton Soke and 10 slabs of Silestone Desert Silver, with a total of 806 sqm and 50 sqm of surfaces, respectively.

CulinaryOn is an immersive cooking studio for team-building activities founded in Moscow and has branches in Poland, Romania, and now, Singapore. Completed in four months, CulinaryOn Singapore occupies a 4,000-square-meter, fan-shaped trapezoidal unit in Robertson Quay, Singapore.

The designers turned this challenging, irregular shape into an opportunity to present a dynamic configuration with moving benches and workstations that can be easily adjusted according to the users’ needs.

The patisserie Glea, run by the young chef Abel Bravo and located in the historic centre of Murcia, first opened its doors in November 2020. It is housed in a traditional establishment, at number 4 Barrionuevo Street, and sells innovative and distinctive sweet treats, with a focus on fresh ingredients.

Although the establishment is housed in a classic style building, its renovation conveys innovation and modernity, in line with the values of the new patisserie. For this, interior designer Alexia Martínez, together with architect Pedro Francisco, has relied on Dekton for the renovation process.

For the flooring, the chosen material was Dekton Kreta, from the Industrial collection. Inspired by polished concrete, Dekton Kreta evokes a seamless effect, making it perfect for use as a base colour to be combined with bold finishes. For the tables, the interior designer has opted for Dekton Kelya, a material inspired by dark marble which features light veins and creates a very unique atmosphere.