Matter in Sotogrande in collaboration with L35 Arquitectos

On 18 June 2024, L35 Arquitectos opened its new office in the Puerto Deportivo de Sotogrande marina, at Calle Ribera del Marlin, unit 36 (San Roque, Cádiz). The space is the result of a collaboration between Matter and L35: it houses the L35 team's design services and a material library created by Matter, complemented by its consultancy service. It is an L35 workspace: unlike Matter's material libraries in Barcelona and Madrid, it is not open to the public and visits are by appointment.

The aim of this shared space is to become a point of reference for bringing projects to life on the Costa del Sol, with a comprehensive service across every stage of the project. Below we look at how the space is organised, what each firm contributes and how the opening went.

L35 Sotogrande in Collaboration with Matter2:51

Architecture, materials and art in a single space

A studio, a material library and an art room.

The space combines uses that are normally kept separate: L35's architecture and interior design studio, a materials showroom developed with Matter, work and meeting areas for reviewing the project with the client, and artwork on display. According to L35, the idea is to merge architecture and interior design with an extensive collection of samples, to make it easier to materialise spaces and to improve the design experience and interaction with the client.

• L35 studio: the base of the practice's architecture and interior design team on the Costa del Sol.
• Material library: samples of stone, ceramics, wood, tapware and textiles, so that the real material can be worked with on the table.
• Matter consultancy: specialised, personalised materials advice at every stage, from concept to final details.
• Art: the Summer Gallery of FLECHA, a contemporary art gallery from Madrid, with work on display in the space during the summer of 2024.

A shared way of working

The proposal is based on close collaboration between L35's interior design department and the Matter team. The aim is to highlight the elements that improve the design of spaces and to take care of every stage of the project, from the initial concept to the final details, so that the result reflects the client's vision and needs.

Having the samples in the same place where the design work happens makes it possible to take decisions on materiality with the design team and the client present, and to compare finishes, textures and colours at full scale before specifying them.

“For Matter, opening this space in collaboration with L35 means getting closer to the client and providing a more complete service, offering specialised, personalised materials advice from start to finish on every project,” says Jordi Antonijoan, CEO of Matter.

L35 Arquitectos on the Costa del Sol

L35 is an architecture, urban planning and design practice with offices in Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Milan, Miami, Mexico, Bogotá, Santiago, Istanbul and Abu Dhabi. In 2024, according to the practice itself, it had 24 partners and more than 200 professionals, with 56 years of experience and projects in 40 countries. Its best-known works include the remodelling of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, the renovation of Roma Termini station and Muelle Uno, on the Málaga waterfront.

Its international experience, together with its projects in the area —residential buildings and villas in Sotogrande, the Aelca tower and the NOA office complex in the Martiricos district of Málaga, and housing in Rincón de la Victoria—, reflects its commitment to the quality of its projects. Combined with Matter's experience in advising on and materialising projects, it makes it possible to provide a solid, personalised professional response, at different scales and down to the last detail. The new base strengthens the presence of L35 and Matter on the Costa del Sol to develop projects in their entirety.

“We are aware that a building's sustainability and efficiency are fundamental for its use, for the client and for the planet. And it is through innovation that we can achieve excellent results,” says Tristán López-Chicheri, CEO of L35 Arquitectos.

An opening with art and materials

The opening took place on the afternoon of Tuesday 18 June 2024. It was attended by San Roque Town Council's councillor for urban planning, Alfonso Valdivia, who toured the different areas and materials of the space. Tristán López-Chicheri, CEO of L35 and head of the Sotogrande office, explained that they decided to open there because the practice develops many projects in the area, with clients from Cádiz to Málaga, and they want to be close to them.

“Architecture, like most sectors today, is moving towards sustainability; we are looking for materials with the lowest possible carbon footprint, and for all the materials that come out to be natural, recycled and reusable,” said Jordi Antonijoan during the event, as reported by San Roque Town Council.

The Espacio L35 Sotogrande in collaboration with Matter reaffirms both firms' commitment to sustainability, innovation and attention to the client in every detail, and shows the potential of the joint work they can offer the end user. It was built by the contractor Menal, with the Madrid gallery FLECHA, which opened its Summer Gallery in the space to bring an offer of high artistic value during the summer.

Materials close to the project

Since 2017, Matter has worked as a materials consultancy for architecture and interior design projects, acting as a link between industry and the needs of each project. Shared spaces such as the one in Sotogrande bring that service closer to studios and their clients wherever projects are developed.