12 Tile of Spain brands lead an intervention in the garden of the Order of St. John from 19-21 May
Designed by LA ERRERÍA, ‘The secret garden’ reimagines the historic English garden as a reflection on materiality in architecture
This initiative is jointly organised by IVACE+i International, the Chamber of Commerce of Castellón and ASCER
For the first time, Tile of Spain takes part in Clerkenwell Design Week 2026, one of London’s and the UK’s leading independent design festivals, through a sensory installation jointly promoted by IVACE+I International, the Chamber of Commerce of Castellón and ASCER. Entitled ‘The secret garden’ and designed by the architecture studio LA ERRERÍA, the project explores the relationship between appearance and substance, positioning Spanish ceramics as a material defined by how it is made: its secret ingredient, respect.
Featuring ceramic pieces from 12 Tile of Spain brands—Adex, Cevica, Cifre Cerámica, Cristacer, Decocer, El Barco, Harmony, La Platera, Porcelanosa, STN Cerámica, UNDEFASA and WOW Design—the installation brings the essence of Spanish ceramics into a new reading of the garden of the Order of St. John in London, conceived as a space open to encounter, contemplation and pause. Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s ‘The importance of being Earnest’, where the Victorian garden symbolises appearance and social status, the intervention reflects on the relationship between the superficial and the essential. From this perspective, the project reclaims ceramics as a material that transcends the visual dimension, redefining the public space as an experience of calm and wellbeing.
Organised into four parterres evoking the seasons, the installation unfolds a landscape of ceramic pieces shaped as totems, tables and seating, creating a sensory journey that invites visitors to engage with the space. Ceramics thus serve as the guiding thread of the project, exploring a wide range of finishes, colours, and textures that encourage visitors to pause, sit and contemplate the space (making-of video).
To support this participation in Clerkenwell Design Week, IVACE+i International has developed a microsite offering key information about the installation, along with contact details and project images from the participating companies. The content is available at: https://www.meetvalenciancompanies.com/clerkenwell-design-week/.
The installation can be visited from 19 to 21 May, between 10am and 5pm/6pm depending on the day. As part of the special programme, on Wednesday 20 opening hours will be extended until 9pm for an evening reception with Spanish wine.
With this initiative, Tile of Spain brings to London a contemporary interpretation of architecture and materials, shifting the focus from pure aesthetics to their role in shaping experience, interaction and encounter. In doing so, the project introduces the values of Spanish ceramics to one of the leading international design and architecture forums.
Clerkenwell Design Week 2026 is held in London’s Clerkenwell district, home to one of the city’s largest communities of architects, designers and showrooms. The fair features 600+ showroom events across 180+ showrooms, installations and exhibition spaces, alongside talks, workshops and product launches led by industry professionals and emerging talent. The 2025 edition attracted 43,162 visitors, mainly professionals involved in project specification.
