Ana Milena Hernández Palacios and Christophe Penasse of Masquespacio didn’t tiptoe onto the design scene in 2010 as much as they burst through the doors with projects dripping in saturated tones and intricate shapes and statement pieces. “I try to initiate projects saying, ‘This time I’m not going to use color,’ but it ends up somewhere in each project,” quips Hernández Palacios. Their vibrant interiors, including the Valencia Lounge Hostel and, most recently, the Student Hotel Barcelona, are not only charming and playful concepts, but above all else, joyful. “Color makes people happy and creates a special feeling for each person,” she points out.
The pair behind the Valencia, Spain-based design consultancy met 17 years ago and cultivated a professional and personal relationship with the main objective to have fun with design—reflecting an aesthetic that draws from art and fashion while being a manifestation of their distinct design sensibilities.
Masquespacio’s signature Toadstool sofa bench for Missana is inspired by both the Memphis movement and the architecture of Michael Graves.
Their move into product design “evolved step by step” says Penasse. First came custom furnishings for their own projects, and then partnerships with several furniture and lighting companies, including their eye-catching work for Spanish lighting brand Raco, which birthed Shade, a sleek pendant that combines a strong material palette of raffia, cowhide leather, marble, and brass. “Our products show our versatile approach with materials and, of course, use a lot of colors,” he adds. Consider their imaginative take on the human eye with the Wink light for Houtique, where pink fringe resembles eyelashes, or the quirky Toadstool series for Missana, which has become a staple for the firm.
Several projects are underway, including Student Hotels in Berlin and Madrid, but what they’re most excited about is the recently launched Mas Creations, a studio focused on creating gallery-level, one-of-a-kind, out-of-the-box pieces. First to arrive is the Doctor Workshop highstool, crafted from perforated metal in a striking violet tone that is simple in material but fearless in execution. It’s their passion for unique design that keeps the twosome striving “to create interesting contrasts,” explains Hernández Palacios. Adds Penasse: “We don’t want to design any product that doesn’t fit with our way of thinking. It’s all about emotion.”
Arco
Wink
