Ramón Esteve is a distinguished architect and designer based in Valencia, Spain, where his eponymous studio has been crafting innovative spaces since 1991. During our design tour of Spain, we were fortunate to spend an entire day immersed in Esteve's world.

A scenic 2.5-hour drive from his studio took us to the Cottage in the Vineyard, nestled on the outskirts of Valencia. There, we had the chance to experience firsthand the serene and laid-back Spanish lifestyle that so beautifully influences Esteve's work.

Nobis Hotel Palma, the third luxury hotel by the Scandinavian Nobis Hospitality Group, beautifully merges historical authenticity with modern elegance. Entering this space feels like stepping into nearly a thousand years of history. Originally a 12th-century Muslim palace, the building has witnessed seven significant stages of transformation. After the Christian conquest in 1229, it became a fortification and later evolved into a Gothic and then Baroque palace. These layers of history, from its origins to its various reconstructions, create the rich and unique character that defines Nobis Hotel Palma today.

Would you carry a tape measure in mind, to gauge how long this path is? That long, long path led to Neuendorf House, the renowned masterpiece by John Pawson and Claudio Silvestrin. A fortress-like structure with solid walls surrounded it, interrupted only by a narrow crevice.

Those thick walls felt unexpectedly light, partly because of their pink color, a mix of concrete and Spanish soil. The whole structure seemed to grow from the land. With walls that enclosed it like petals, the house rose like a rose in that nomadic landscape.

Nestled on the outskirts of Barcelona, a mere fifteen-minute drive from the city center, stood a marvel of architectural rebirth: La Fábrica. Home to Taller de Arquitectura (RBTA) and the Bofill family, this renowned masterpiece revealed itself as we drew near. Its imposing presence rose before us, a striking fusion of industrial ruin and organic transformation.

The first glimpse of the towering silos, now adorned with creeping ivy and punctuated by verdant trees sprouting from the concrete, left us in awe. It was a surreal sight—an industrial relic metamorphosed into a symbol of creativity and resilience, like stepping into another world hidden out of the city. A forest growing on concrete, contrasting sharply with the modern concrete forest of the city.

Last month, our design tour in South Africa brought us to Bronze Age, a creative studio nestled in Cape Town. Sculptor Otto du Plessis established Bronze Age in 1997 as one of South Africa’s first foundries dedicated to the ‘lost wax’ method in South Africa. Bronze Age specializes in fine art sculptures, collectible design and architectural installations. They set benchmarks for quality. Working closely with a unique community of artists, multi-disciplinary designers and craftsmen, they place their creativity, specialist skills and latest technology at the service of our clients.

Last month, our design tour in South Africa brought us to Bronze Age, a creative studio nestled in Cape Town. Sculptor Otto du Plessis established Bronze Age in 1997 as one of South Africa’s first foundries dedicated to the ‘lost wax’ method in South Africa. Bronze Age specializes in fine art sculptures, collectible design and architectural installations. They set benchmarks for quality. Working closely with a unique community of artists, multi-disciplinary designers and craftsmen, they place their creativity, specialist skills and latest technology at the service of our clients.