Masquespacio STIRred 2023 with pop, colour and play

Masquespacio, a design studio based in Spain, specialises in creating objects and spaces that are humorous and charming. Founded in 2010 by Ana Milena Hernández Palacios and Christophe Penasse, the Spanish studio has worked in various countries across the globe. Their contemporary style often adopts specific contextual references for different projects. Imbued with light colours, soft curves and plain textures, their creations embody a lightness that is evocative of gardens, summer and spring. The design studio often names and styles their designs after fictitious characters and tales from pop culture (or narratives imagined by the two designers). By doing so, Palacios and Penasse manage to humanise their creations and express common emotions through them.

STIR enlists Masquespacio’s best of 2023 below.

1. People

As part of Masquespacio’s collaboration with French retailer Monoprix, the Spanish studio unveiled a collection of more than 50 items which include furniture, homeware objects, artworks and art pieces, and fashion-related products. This is the first collection developed under the moniker of Mas Creations, an initiative by the studio that focuses on product design. The design of the collection is inspired by the concept of a Parisian brunch on a terrace, at a time when the weather is good. The idea of associating the design with Paris was chosen to reference the city where Monoprix’s main office is situated. The collection, hence, idealises and references the perfect scene for a brunch in Paris.

2. Places

Masquespacio’s design for hairstyling brand We Are Emma, in Milan, Italy, sought to create an environment that exuded joy and playfulness. This was achieved through the usage of pastel colour tones and soft edges. The lighting design of the space further renders it vibrant and charming. The studio further carefully selected materials like tainted natural wood, marble, and stainless steel for the design features, to add a refined touch to the space.

Masquespacio designed a series of holiday apartments in Valencia, Spain, this year, for Danzas Studios. The project takes its name from the street in the old town of Valencia where the apartments are located. The aim was to create interiors reminiscent of a Mediterranean aesthetic. Hence, the designer incorporated the usage of common materials from the Mediterranean, such as terracotta for flooring, and lattice bricks for space dividers and furniture. To avoid the pigeonholing of the interior design under a rustic and traditional style, the makers integrated various atypical decorative elements within the space, such as silver curtains, tube lamps, and organic wall art.

King Kong Club, Masquespacio’s first project in Salzburg, Austria, is a fitness club that focuses on four different group workout concepts, namely LIFT (the strength-training concept), RUSH (the boot camp-based HIIT concept), BAGS (the boxing-focused concept) and FLOW (the yoga-based training concept). Max Schirnhofer, the founder of King Kong Club, had the initial idea to open a new club that was inspired by a mix of 80s techno style and cyberpunk. In addition to these aesthetics, Masquespacio proposed incorporating more hints of futurism that are oriented to the modern building itself, adding an innovative and sophisticated touch to the space. The result is a façade showcasing an impactful play of lights which catches the attention of every passer-by, whilst the interior invites you in to discover more and creates a feeling of stepping into the future.

Ichi Station in Milan is a space designed by Masquespacio for the sushi takeaway chain Ichi Station. While the design identities developed previously for Ichi’s spaces were inspired by travel and a station, the design for this new space in Milan is a more conceptual one, maintaining its essence, but getting away from literal and traditional travel representations. The Spanish design studio, hence, proposed the concept of travel to the future through light, for this Milanese space. “With this more futuristic look, we had the opportunity to represent the innovative sushi that is showcased on Ichi’s full of flavours and colours menu, developed by Yango, in collaboration with chef Haruo Ichikawa,” comments Masquespacio’s creative director Ana Hernández.

3. Events to remember

Led by Hernández and Penasse, Masquespacio presented two collections from their in-house workshop Mas Creations, at Maison&Objet 2023. The two collections include the Home collection and the CONO collection. The studio's presentation at the design fair was suffused with a range of colourful inclusions. Some items on display included sofas, lounge chairs. room dividers, tables, chairs and ceramic objects.