Projects and professionals setting global trends at the Macael Awards 2025

With nearly four decades of history, the Macael Awards celebrate their 38th edition, recognizing the talent, innovation, and excellence of the professionals and projects that continue to elevate an industry regarded as a global leader. The Andalusian Marble Industry Association (AEMA) has announced the winners of a gala to be held on Friday, November 21, which will once again position Macael as a global meeting point for architecture, design, and innovation.

This year’s edition will honor ten projects and professionals that embody excellence, creativity, and global vision in an industry that continues to set trends across the five continents.

The international awards recognize works and professionals from North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, while the remaining distinctions highlight talent in areas such as sustainability, design and communication, the use of White Macael Marble, and national achievements. In addition, the Institutional Award underscores the collaboration of organizations and individuals who contribute to the development and visibility of the sector.

The jury, made up of members of AEMA’s Board of Directors, selected the winning projects from among 20 submissions corresponding to works completed between January 2022 and September 2025, following the extension of the eligibility period approved by the 2019 General Assembly.

The gala will be attended by institutional representatives, industry professionals, architects, designers, media, and sponsoring companies, whose continued support, makes this event possible year by year. “Behind the success of the Macael Awards lies a shared commitment. Our sponsors are an essential part of this story — their trust and ongoing support make it possible for us to keep showcasing to the world the vision of an industry that never stops moving forward,” stands out Jesús Posadas, president of AEMA.

The event will also welcome postgraduate and master’s students from the fourth edition of the “Program for the Promotion of the Natural Stone and Innovative Surfaces Industry,” aimed at future architects. Students from the Universities of Seville, Granada, and Málaga will explore the values of the Macael Marble Brand, its materials, and the transformative capacity of this industry. Furthermore, as tradition dictates, the celebration will coincide with the International Stone Meeting, organized by Andalucía TRADE.

The award winners of this 38th edition are as follows:

COMMUNICATION AWARD

FOCUS PIEDRA

The Jury grants the Communication Award to Focus Piedra, under the direction of its founder and CEO, Marisa Carrio. The publication has achieved continuous growth by adapting to the evolution of the natural stone and large-format surfaces industry, becoming a benchmark and leading reference for the sector in Spain. Throughout the years, Focus Piedra has strengthened its position as a specialized media outlet in natural stone, covering traditional topics such as quarries, processing, workshops, and machinery, while evolving into a platform that also addresses and influences areas such as Kitchen & Bath, construction, architecture, and interior design. It stands as a success story of a B2B sectoral media that has become a leader, prescriber, and authoritative voice for an entire industry.

SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALMERÍA

The Jury grants the Sustainability Award to the Port Authority of Almería for its project to improve the energy efficiency of its administrative building, which includes a new envelope, the redevelopment of the surrounding area, and the enhancement of access points. This initiative is part of the port-city integration strategy and addresses the three dimensions of sustainability in a balanced way. On a social level, it creates accessible, multifunctional, and high-quality public spaces; economically, it generates employment during construction and contributes to tourism development; and environmentally, it reduces the carbon footprint through an energy-efficient building. The intervention combines locally sourced natural materials and innovative surfaces such as Dekton, Blanco Macael marble, Almería travertine, and granite.

NORTH AMERICA INTERNATIONAL AWARD

FRENCH TERRAKOTTA CORP. DBA IMPRESSION, FOR VILLA NAPOLI, CALIFORNIA

The Jury grants the North America International Award to the Villa Napoli residence, located in Newport Beach, California. The complex consists of two buildings with a total constructed area of approximately 1,200 m² distributed over two levels. The main house façade is inspired by Italian–Mediterranean architecture It’s executed in white limestone, used for both structural and decorative columns, claddings of various thicknesses, moldings, cornices, window and door frames, and flooring. The same stone was also used for the terraces, pool edges, and outdoor kitchen, with a total volume of 80 m³ supplied. Inside, the residence features natural stone flooring, fireplaces made of Nero Marquina and White Carrara marble, and a main kitchen crafted in White Carrara marble. As a distinctive element, the summer kitchen stands out, which is equipped with a large Taj Mahal quartzite countertop chosen for its durability and aesthetic appeal.

LATIN AMERICA INTERNATIONAL AWARD

PALACIO DE HIERRO, LEÓN, MEXICO

The Jury grants the Latin America International Award to the Palacio de Hierro project, in León, Mexico, designed by the firm Sordo Madaleno under the direction of Andrés Cajiga, with engineering and distribution by Katorce Espacios. The building, a two-story shopping center, stands out for its combination of materials and colors on the façade, achieving a balanced appearance between modernity and natural character. The large-format Dekton Marmorio façade is complemented by interior applications in Dekton ID, used to define geometric forms that interact with the exterior. The project offers low maintenance, natural beauty, and a coherent integration between architectural design and construction functionality.

ASIA INTERNATIONAL AWARD

NAGOYA SUBWAY STATION, JAPAN

The Jury grants the Asia International Award to the Nagoya Subway Station project in Japan, designed by Ichikawa Michio Architects. Covering 1,800 m² of walls and flooring, this public infrastructure project utilizes Dekton in a range of colors —Helena, Keranium, Taga, Arga, Spectra, Lunar, Halo, and Kreta— chosen for their performance and aesthetic qualities. The station’s defining feature is the use of polished Dekton Helena surfaces, which reflect light and transform the underground environment into a brighter and more welcoming space, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Dekton was selected for its durability, ease of maintenance, and resistance to cracking and staining, making it ideal for high-traffic areas. Its subtle marble-like finish provides a refined visual continuity that enhances both functionality and atmosphere.

INTERNATIONAL AWARD EUROPE

BALTIC INFINITY, MIĘDZYZDROJE, POLAND

The Jury grants the International Award Europe to the Baltic Infinity project, located in Międzyzdroje, Poland —a residential and hotel complex on the seafront whose ventilated façade has been entirely executed with Dekton. The five-story building houses 161 apartments, while the ground floor includes commercial premises, a restaurant, a spa, and wellness areas. The choice of Dekton was based on its almost zero porosity, resistance to humidity, salinity, and environmental factors, as well as its ease of maintenance and cleaning. The façade, covering 4,200 m² and composed of 11,000 prefabricated elements, was completed in a year and a half. To achieve visual harmony with the coastal surroundings, three tones were used —Danae, Moone, and Domoos— in beige, white, and black finishes.

NATIONAL AWARD

BASILICA OF THE SAGRADA FAMILIA, BARCELONA

The Jury grants the National Award to the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia project in Barcelona for the manufacture and supply of natural stone elements used in the construction of the Evangelists’ Towers (Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke, and Saint John), the Tower of Our Lady, and the Tower of Jesus. This represented a significant technical and artistic challenge, requiring the perfect integration of traditional stonemasonry with precision industrial fabrication, always in accordance with the technical specifications set by the Project Management.

. The completion of these towers coincides with the preparation for the centenary of Gaudí’s death in 2026, a milestone that will enhance the Basilica’s international prominence and reinforce the association of the Macael brand with this iconic work.La entrega de estas torres coincide con la preparación del centenario de la muerte de Gaudí en 2026, un hito que realzará la proyección internacional de la Basílica y reforzará la vinculación de la marca Macael con esta obra universal.

INSTITUTIONAL AWARD

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, ENERGY AND MINES OF THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF ANDALUSIA

The Jury grants the Institutional Award to the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines of the Regional Government of Andalusia for the implementation of the Value Chain Growth Plan for the Stone and Marble Industry of Andalusia. It is endowed with €18.8 million in incentives, aimed at strengthening business competitiveness through the flagship project “Productive Modernization and Sustainability of the Stone and Marble Industry of Almería”. This initiative contributes to the transformation and consolidation of the stone and marble sector as a pillar of sustainability and regional development. The award also recognizes the Promotion Program for the Natural Stone and Innovative Surfaces Industry, focused on architecture students. This strategy fosters awareness and appreciation of the industry among the next generation of professionals. Fully funded by the Ministry, the program involves postgraduate and master’s students from the Andalusian public universities of Seville, Granada, and Málaga.

DESIGN AWARD

IBÁÑEZ-COSENTINO ART FOUNDATION, FOR THE BOTANICAL GARDEN AND GLYPTOTHEQUE, CITY OF CULTURE OF OLULA DEL RÍO (ALMERÍA)

The Jury grants the Design Award to the Ibáñez-Cosentino Art Foundation for the creation of the Botanical Garden and Glyptotheque of the City of Culture in Olula del Río—an innovative space that brings together art, heritage, and technology. This glyptotheque houses 20 Greco-Roman sculptures reproduced in limestone, including universal icons such as the Venus de Milo, the Doryphoros, and the Spinario. The works, produced using advanced sculptural reproduction technologies, achieve an exceptional level of fidelity—from the extraction of the stone blocks to their final machining—while the finishing details have been carefully executed by the museum itself. The ensemble stands as a bridge between classical antiquity and the present, a space where natural stone regains its evocative power, connecting new generations with the universal artistic legacy of humanity.

WHITE MACAEL MARBLE AWARD

R&D+i+TIC BUILDING AND FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF JAÉN

The jury grants the Blanco Macael Marble Award to the R&D+i+TIC Building of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Jaén, designed by Arquitrabe Arquitectos y Urbanistas and executed by the joint venture UJA I+D+i+TIC (Construcciones Calderón S.A., Solar Jienense S.A. and Pinus S.A.). In this project, the White Macael Marble stands as the guiding thread of the entire complex, with over 7,000 m² used in various formats. The building is organized around major axes that connect its different functions, prioritizing natural light and passive energy efficiency. On the south façade, ponds clad in White Macael Marble serve as reflective surfaces and natural cooling elements, while the large central void structures the interior spaces and enhances luminosity through staircases and floors finished with this material. It is a symbol of identity and durability. Granite tiles were chosen for the exterior pavements.