We interviewed Andoni Diaz, interior designer and, since 2019, President of the Official Association of Interior Decorators and Designers of Biscay. He has also been President of the General Council of Official Associations of Spain since 2022.
At the young age of 23, he began his career at AD Interior, where he specialised in interior design and ephemeral architecture. After a few years, AD Estudio emerged as a studio specialising in the complete refurbishment of commercial premises and homes.
1) Tell us how AD Estudio came about. How would you describe your design philosophy and how is it reflected in your work?
AD ESTUDIO is where comfort merges with avant-garde. We love bespoke projects, created with care and with the user in mind. We create spaces to enjoy and live in, so we focus on the users, their tastes and needs. But as good designers, we also enjoy novelty, which is why we strive to give each of our projects a more avant-garde thread through aesthetic innovation. We always say in the studio that you must give the client 200% so that at least 100% of the idea remains with them. We are experts in full refurbishments, particularly in the housing sector, but we also design public spaces such as hotels, offices, and shops, among others. Nowadays it seems that everything has already been invented, and every day clients come to the studio with increasingly clearer concepts, but we always find a way to enhance their ideas and surprise them. The design must always satisfy the needs of the user, but we shouldn’t forget that it must also inspire us to dream, travel, and have high hopes.
2) You have used Tres tapware in numerous projects. What led you to select Tres for them?
At AD ESTUDIO we are very much “Tres Lovers”. One of the cornerstones of our projects is high-quality products, sourced locally if possible. The added value of a domestic product is one of the best ways we have to defend our projects. We are committed to high quality products and domestic production, including Tres Grifería. Furthermore, the variety of finishes, models, and colours makes it possible to find a Tres tap for any project. In addition, we like to adapt projects not only to the client's preferences, but also to their budgets, so with Tres, we know that we have a wide variety of aesthetics and prices at our fingertips, always with a very high-quality product.
3) Tell us about your URIBITARTE project and what inspired you to create it.
URIBITARTE 1 - U1 is a very special project. It is a house located in the heart of our city, Bilbao, in a historic building from 1901. It is always a pleasure to have the opportunity to renovate such historically significant buildings. Walls, ceilings and floors all speak volumes and as designers we love to listen to the space and allow ourselves to be guided by what each corner conveys. People frequently ask us what our style is, but I don't believe we have a well-defined one, as we almost always adapt our designs to what we feel the space requires. URIBITARTE 1 – U1 tells the tale of the history of the city of Bilbao at the turn of the 20th century. We could not just ignore that past and start from scratch; we had to figure out how to combine the building's historical features with our more avant-garde aesthetic. That is how this project’s mix came about, as a form of deconstructivism, combining high ceilings, mouldings, cornices and arches with straight lines, sharp angles and technology. We opted for a more traditional style for the living room area, where we installed a restored cast iron fireplace from the early 20th century that serves as the room's focal point, and carried that thread through to the kitchen, where, in order to completely break the aesthetics, we designed a minimalist kitchen with a super matte finish and a 2x2 metre golden cube in the centre. This cube allows us to conceal the bathroom, washer, dryer, and additional kitchen storage. The cube appears to be an element unrelated to the project, but it is also integrated into the overall aesthetic of warm tones. We designed the cube’s interior as a futuristic space in its entirety. Using turquoise blue 20x20 tiles and white for the furniture and a portion of the ceiling, we created a capsule where the Portobello marble washbasin countertop is the focal point, with a wall mirror that continues along the ceiling, visually expanding the space and creating a very interesting effect of light and reflections.
4) How was the tapware chosen for this project? What were the primary considerations?
It was obvious to us that the tap fittings for this project would have to be chrome plated and recessed. We love installing recessed and wall-mounted taps, because they add an extra aesthetic touch to our projects. The Loft model was selected for the basin tap. Furthermore, we integrated it into the wall mirror, doubling its projection in the space. We also selected a bidet tap from the Loft collection. In terms of design and functionality, it is a triumph. For the shower, we opted for the recessed Max product by Tres, with a 33x33 cm shower head built into the ceiling. The taps that were chosen continue the futuristic aesthetics of the bathroom, with a minimalist line and a gloss finish that adds the “plastic” touch we desired.
5) What specific features of the tap fittings you selected contribute to the space's functionality?
On the one hand, the fact that the tap fitting is always recessed provides, in addition to the aesthetic benefit, a cleanliness benefit. For the wash basin taps in particular, unlike countertop taps, wall-mounted taps are easier to clean as they leave the horizontal surface uncluttered. Similarly, in the shower area, only the essential elements, such as the tap and the lever or, as in this case, the lever with a thermostat body system, are left in view. Moreover, in this and other projects, we frequently opt for bidet taps. They allow us to provide all the functionality of a bidet without the need to take up the space that this piece of sanitaryware requires. URIBITARTE 1 - U1 was a dwelling measuring just 60m2, so it was paramount to make the most of every corner. For showers we always like to opt for thermostat taps and, of course, a good shower head. With all the stress of everyday life, there is nothing better than a good shower with a rain effect, which is why a 300 mm diameter shower head is always the perfect choice. In almost all of our projects, it is one of those elements that we recommend to clients and that, after installation and daily use, they come back to the studio to thank us for it. Due to all of these reasons we will continue to entrust Tres with our projects and we hope to continue to offer new finishes and colours that complement each design.
