An architectural self-portrait with Dekton Sirius and Dekton Kreta

Conceived as an architectural self-portrait, this home in Almería is the natural extension of José Maldonado Felices himself, from Maldonado Arquitectos. “The house is the extension of the body,” he states. In it, he projects his obsessions, his tastes, his way of life. It is a space that, rather than showcasing, explains: it speaks of how an architect interprets living, of the tools used to transform thought into a home.

The project is based on an existing structure that was renovated alongside J2 Arquitectos, with execution by GIPRO Soluciones. In this intervention, Maldonado takes an intimate look at his own profession, guided by the idea of creating a space where material, colour, and proportion translate into balance. In this pursuit of coherence, the choice of materials is part of the personal narrative that defines the home.

As a native of Almería, the architect was certain that Cosentino had to be part of his project. “Introducing Cosentino into your home means embracing the entire spirit of the brand,” he explains. He chose Dekton not only for its technical qualities but for what it represents: “For feeling connected to a local product treated with universal values. For its elegance. For its brand. For Almería.”

Within the home, materials are used with a narrative intention. Two shades of Dekton —Sirius and Kreta— are selected, responding to different contexts but maintaining the same goal: to elevate the home to its highest category. The first, a deep and sober black, defines the kitchen and integrates it into the shared space of the living-dining room. “The black colour of Dekton Sirius grants elegance and mysticism to the main space while blurring the presence of appliances,” the architect notes. The chromatic continuity allows the lines to dissolve, and the kitchen, executed by Schmidt Almería, is perceived as a natural extension of the whole.

Dekton Kreta, on the other hand, is used for the bathroom floors. Its texture and neutral tone provide visual serenity and a tactile sensation consistent with the idea of everyday comfort. In both cases, the treatment of the material is precisely adapted to the domestic scale: “The material is comfortable to work with if the context and its design intention are properly interpreted,” reflects Maldonado.

The architectural challenges of this project focused on the integration of uses and the purity of execution. On one hand, achieving a seamless fusion of the kitchen with the living room; on the other, avoiding visible joints in wet rooms. Thanks to the large format of Dekton and the precise planning of the pieces, visible joints were eliminated, providing continuity and cleanliness to the whole. “The dimensions and layout of the material are utilised to avoid stepping on joints during bathroom use. Thus, an added value is given to the material's visual properties alongside its tactile qualities,” he explains.

Beyond its technical role, the material takes on a symbolic dimension. Maldonado describes it as a balance between the tangible and the intangible: “Its unintelligible value is complemented by its objective properties. Durability and easy maintenance are a great complement to the material.” In this sense, the architect seeks not only a functional response in Dekton but a form of beauty that withstands the test of time. “In the pursuit of beauty, it is the less functional realities that gain the most value,” he concludes.