‘Plenary session’ of design icons in the Chimney Room of Valencia City Hall

Within the setting of the actions promoted by World Design Capital Valencia 2022, the City Council of Valencia has today unveiled the new interior design project of its emblematic reception hall, known as the Chimney Room. The initiative is the result of the support given by the local authority to the Design Capital organisers and the involvement of the Professional Association of Interior Designers and Decorators of the Valencian Community and the Association of Designers of the Valencian Community.

With the overriding aim of enhancing its own historical wealth, the hall has been equipped with pieces of furniture by the five companies of the region that have been recognised with the prestigious National Design Award: Actiu, Andreu World, LZF Lamps, Point and Punt Mobles.

The presentation ceremony at the city hall was attended by the team responsible for the interior design project, Cosín Estudio, as well as the other renowned Valencian companies and professionals involved in the initiative.

“We have updated the space using iconic furniture and lighting with Valencian DNA and, in turn, we have given it freedom to emphasise its virtues, such as the spectacular floor by Nolla, a great example of our heritage,” declared Pepe Cosín, president of the Professional Association of Interior Designers of the Valencian Community (CDICV) and CEO of Cosín Estudio, during the inauguration. “It was a real challenge but the involvement of great companies and designers has made it very easy. We have covered all the requirements of the space, updating it to project culture and contributing to increasing its symbolic load, respecting its essence. We have contributed to making the reception hall a visiting card that is worthy of the design heritage of Valencia and its status as the international epicentre of the sector just three months before the beginning of our year as Design Capital.”

Atmosphere representative of the history of design in Valencia as seen by winners of the National Design Awards 

Four graphic works from the Municipal Historic Archive appeal to Valencian identity and pay a tribute to four great names of poster design, graphic art and illustration: José Segrelles (Fallas Poster, 1929), Rafael Raga Montesinos (Fallas Poster,1932), Fernando Cabedo Torrents (Gran Feria de València Poster, 1934) and Josep Renau (Las Arenas, 1935).

Displayed together with these are the posters and silkscreen prints created and selected by Marisa Gallén (National Design Award 2019), Pepe Gimeno (National Design Award 2020), Nacho Lavernia (National Design Award 2012), Xavier Mariscal (National Design Award 1999) and Dani Nebot (National Design Award 1995).

Lighting by LZF Lamps

The lighting project, which increases both the strength and the discretion of the light sources with the right balance for each ambience, has been developed by Cosín Estudio in cooperation with the artisanal lighting company, LZF Lamps (National Design Award 2020), which has contributed Black Note standard lamps and such an unmistakable ceiling lamp as Big Bird. This suspended lamp, designed by Isidro Ferrer and handmade from plywood, is inspired by a technique called vareta which uses interlaced wood to unite Valencian tradition and Mediterranean character.

Furniture designed in Valencia

The meeting area features designs by the specialised office furniture firm Actiu (National Design Award 2020), such as the large meeting table, Arkitek, designed by the Valencian studio Alegre Design which, thanks to its glass top, enables us to continue to admire the mosaic on which it stands, and the award-winning Karbon chairs by Item Designwork, timeless in nature, impeccably ergonomic and extremely resilient and light thanks to their innovative carbon fibre structure.

The Paralel armchairs with their teak structure, designed by Gabriel Teixidó for Point (National Design Award 2020), transmit the company’s history of innovation, craftsmanship and design. This contemporary and comfortable classic contributes to the serene style of the new relaxation area of the room.

Andrew World (National Design Award 2007) has contributed some of its most distinctive creations. Whilst the Element sofas and the Arc occasional tables form a suite in the rest area, the round meeting table Reverse – an icon of elegance and stability with a central column made from 100% recyclable polyethylene – and the Flex swivel chairs – with a recycled thermopolymer Eco carcass – furnish the work area.

The Chimney Room now boasts one of the shelves of the La Literatura collection which, designed in 1985 by Vicent Martínez and winner of numerous awards, undoubtedly contributed to the winning of the 1997 National Design Award by Punt Mobles. The same company has contributed sideboards and tables from another of its most representative series, the Stockholm, created by Alicante designer Mario Ruiz (National Design Award 2016).

“This project, like so many others arising from World Design Capital Valencia, is intended to last, bringing the value of design to society, and it calls out to the world about the strength of our innovation and design ecosystem,” assures Xavi Calvo, president of World Design Capital Valencia 2022. “We are increasingly aware that design is the key to wellbeing and progress, and we could not be prouder of the support at institutional level for the enhancement of the Mediterranean vision and Valencia as a nerve centre of design which crosses borders. It is very significant that, in a space with these characteristics and led by Cosín Estudio, we can bring together the beginnings (Segrelles, Raga Montesinos, Cabedo, Renau…) with great Valencian professionals and companies that have been rewarded with National Design and Innovation Awards since these distinctions began in 1987.”