Spanish Suppliers You Should Know

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Spain has been slow to carve a niche for itself on the global design scene. Often overshadowed by their Italian counterparts, Spanish manufacturers have traditionally struggled to compete on an international level.

While Spain may have been a little slow off the starting block in terms of global marketing, back home its design industry has been steadily – and stealthily – gathering strength.

Embracing a fresh, innovative approach to design, Spanish manufacturers are quietly positioning themselves as a refreshing and unique alternative to more traditional design solutions. The Association of Spanish Manufacturers of Office and Contract Furniture and Equipment (FAMO) has adopted the tagline ‘Sunlight shaping design’, a reference to the way that natural light infuses and influences Spanish architecture and design.

In fact, light is a fitting metaphore for the clean, contemporary, uncluttered lines that are inherent in many Spanish products. We've spoken to some leading players on the Spanish design scene, to find out more about how they are differentiating themselves.

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ROCA

Victor Schoone, country manager, Middle East, Roca.

Tell us about your company.

Roca’s vision is to be the ‘leading global bathroom brand’ by the year 2020. The definition of this vision was set by Jose Miguel Roca in 2007 and has sparked the creation of numerous ‘total change’ strategies through the company, and worldwide.

Roca is aiming to be the leader in everything related to our business. It has defined five key values, which are innovation, design, wellness, sustainability and leadership. Any change programme or strategy must ensure that we improve in one or more of these five areas.

New designs like W&W show our commitment to the environment and to innovation, as the water from the washbasin is reused for flushing the WC. This revolutionary concept has won numerous awards. Other innovations in wellness include Transtube, a shower cabin with automatic sliding doors, and the Home Beach.

Roca has also shown its leadership in the bathroom sector through the establishment of a new concept of showrooms called Galleries, in which our values, goals, objectives and desires are transmitted to the end customer. We explain about the projects we are working on and the history of the company.

Roca now owns such Galleries in Barcelona, Madrid and Lisboa, and in 2010 a new London Gallery, designed by Zaha Hadid, will be opened.

What sets you apart from the competition?

The fact that Roca is still a family business, and is considered to be one of the largest family-owned businesses in Europe, makes it unique within the bathroom sector, and really makes a difference to the company. The fact that a family runs the business allows for good ideas, and even philanthropic ideas, to find a way to the market, which really puts a signature on each and every Roca product.

What projects have you worked on in this region?

Large-scale residential projects like Sky Courts, luxury hotels and resorts like Grosvenor House II and the Westin, as well as Saadiyat Island projects in Abu Dhabi, and many other housing and hotel projects across the whole of the Middle East.

What are the defining characteristics of Spanish design?

Latin and Arab influences have created a unique combination of style, originality and commitment, which, combined with technology, quality and hygiene (in the case of bathroom products), is putting Spanish designers at the forefront of international design.

How do we contact you?

Please visit our new website, www.roca.com or call +971 (0)4 347 6400 to contact our regional office at Emaar Gold & Diamond Park, Building 5, Office 111, Sheikh Zayed Road, 4th Interchange.