For the newly opened Restaurante René in Málaga, the studio developed a bespoke ceramic project that brings together architecture, contemporary craftsmanship and gastronomy. The commission included a large-scale mural created with natural clay finishes and a custom-designed tableware collection sharing the same visual language. The result is a space where walls and table engage in a continuous dialogue, reinforcing the restaurant’s identity while enriching the dining experience.

The project was born from a close collaboration with interior design studio Lago Interioriza and chef Diego René. The interior designers wanted to introduce botanical motifs inspired by the elegance of Art Nouveau into the space. Starting from this concept, María Monasterio researched the native vegetation of Tabarca Island—the chef’s birthplace—to better understand its landscape and flora. This research became the foundation for a botanical motif that combines Mediterranean inspiration with a refined and distinctive aesthetic.

The mural itself emerged unexpectedly during the tableware design process. After studying the interior design proposal, the studio noticed that the restaurant’s main wall lacked a defining feature and proposed creating a ceramic intervention that would become part of Lago Interioriza’s overall concept, centred around the chef’s personal story.

Following several sketches, the final design was developed digitally before laser-cut templates were produced to execute the mural. Created using natural clays and mineral binders, the surface achieves the appearance of textured concrete while retaining the warmth and character of handcrafted ceramics.

During installation, the templates were positioned against the wall and covered with the clay mixture. Once removed, they revealed the botanical relief beneath. Due to the scale of the project, a series of modular templates was carefully aligned and repeated to complete the full composition.

The same botanical motif was translated into the bespoke tableware and decorative ceramic pieces designed for the restaurant, creating a seamless connection between the architecture and the dining table. The visual identity extends beyond the interior itself and becomes part of the guest experience.

The mural, the space and the tableware all share the same origin: the landscapes of Tabarca, the chef’s story and a contemporary interpretation of Mediterranean Art Nouveau.

Cervezas Alhambra commissioned the studio to design a ceramic collection inspired by the values that define the brand: the diversity of Andalusia, its unique light and the natural ingredients used in its beers.

The result is a collection of three handcrafted serving pieces, each one bringing together an ingredient, a landscape and a specific function.

The design process began with three signature ingredients closely associated with the brand—orange blossom, glasswort and anise seed (matalahúva)—and the Andalusian landscapes where each naturally belongs.

Orange blossom, associated with historic cities and monuments, inspired a versatile plate that functions both as a serving dish and as a pedestal. Glasswort, a coastal plant found by the sea, became a series of flat tray-like pieces. Anise seed, connected to fields and mountain landscapes, inspired the tallest piece in the collection: the bowl.

The studio carefully selected colours reflecting the changing light of the Andalusian landscape throughout the day, while textures evoke the character of each natural element. The intention was for every object to express several ideas simultaneously—ingredient, landscape and atmosphere—while together forming a cohesive ceramic collection through colour, texture and varying heights.

Each piece can be used individually or combined as part of a complete presentation. The variation in form—from pedestal plate to flat tray and elevated bowl—creates a composition with its own visual rhythm and sculptural presence.

A creative brief from a nationally recognised brand was transformed into handcrafted objects that remain faithful to the concept while expressing the studio’s distinctive artistic language.

Semilla Urbana (“Urban Seed”) is a sculptural trophy created by the studio for Colonial. Designed as a three-part ceramic artwork, it represents the ecosystem that makes everyday urban life possible while embodying a tangible commitment to sustainability. The piece is crafted entirely from recycled clay reclaimed from the studio’s own ceramic production, transforming waste into the very material from which the work begins.

The sculpture is composed of three interlocking forms that support and contain one another. The outer base, with its open concave shape, represents the foundations that enable growth: collaboration, partnership and the collective effort that drives urban development.

Nested within it is a second, more embracing form that evokes a place of belonging—a space where ideas, talent and professional activity can flourish within a supportive environment.

At its core rests a smooth, enclosed seed. It symbolises the individual: the person who lives, creates, researches, connects and ultimately transforms the city.

A delicate touch of gold leaf highlights the central seed, suggesting the value of human potential and the energy that, once allowed to grow, becomes the driving force behind progress. Fine carved lines running across the exterior reinforce a sense of movement, elegance and refinement, while the colour gradient—from the darker base to the luminous centre—represents the journey from infrastructure to innovation, from support to transformation.

The choice of material is fundamental to the project. Made entirely from recycled clay generated within the studio itself, the sculpture gives physical form to a genuine commitment to sustainability: what was once considered waste becomes the origin of something new.

Sustainability is not presented here as a communication claim or design concept—it is embedded in the material itself, carrying its own history, imperfections and renewed value.

Hotel ME Málaga is a five-star destination with a strong commitment to contemporary culture. Artworks and site-specific artistic interventions are an essential part of its identity. Within this context, the hotel acquired pieces from the studio’s Renacidas series to become part of its permanent collection—a recognition of contemporary handcrafted ceramics as collectible art, alongside the other works featured in the hotel’s cultural programme.

Renacidas (“Reborn”) is a collection of one-of-a-kind ceramic sculptures created entirely from recycled clay generated within the studio. Every piece is unique: the recycled material itself ensures that no two works can ever be the same.

What would otherwise become waste—the leftover clay from previous projects, carrying its own textures, irregularities and history—is transformed into the defining material and identity of each sculpture.

The series was conceived not as a commercial collection but as a conceptual exploration of what happens when discarded material becomes the protagonist. The result is a body of work with a powerful physical presence, shaped by the textures, colours and forms that naturally emerge through the recycling process.

The inclusion of Renacidas in Hotel ME Málaga’s permanent collection positions the series within the field of collectible contemporary art, recognising it as more than a decorative object.

Displayed alongside other curated artworks within the hotel’s cultural programme, the collection places the studio’s work in a context of high artistic and curatorial standards.

The studio designs bespoke ceramic tableware for fine dining restaurants across Spain and Europe. Its clients include Restaurante Beluga in Málaga, Tian in Vienna, as well as restaurants in Austria and Belgium.

In most cases, these relationships extend far beyond a single commission. They evolve into long-term collaborations involving seasonal collections, replacement pieces and the ongoing development of new designs tailored to each restaurant’s evolving needs.

Every collection begins with a deep understanding of the restaurant’s identity: the chef’s culinary vision, the interior design, the style of service and the practical function of every piece.

Rather than producing generic tableware, the studio creates ceramics designed for a specific cuisine and a particular dining experience. The longevity of these collaborations—with chefs and restaurants returning season after season—reflects the trust built through exceptional craftsmanship, reliability and a collaborative design process.

The studio’s ability to manage commissions for clients in Austria and Belgium demonstrates that its approach—handcrafted, highly personalised and detail-driven—travels naturally beyond geographical borders.

Each piece is designed and handcrafted in Casabermeja, Málaga, before being carefully packed and shipped to some of Europe’s finest dining tables.