B&WDIALOGUES
Burondo Studio | Alicante, Spain
"Every material, every texture and every colour is a fundamental piece in the construction of those spaces that, over time, tell their own story."
Video by UNA creativos
This philosophy defines the work of Burondo Studio, an architecture and interior design studio where materials are not just an aesthetic choice, but the soul of each project.
For Isa and Bea Blanco, sisters and founders of the studio, designing a space means creating a dialogue between authenticity, functionality and timeless beauty. Their approach is based on the choice of noble materials - wood, stone, clay, lime - which, far from being static, evolve, acquire character and reflect the life that takes place in them.
In this interview, we explore their creative process, the importance they place on sustainability and how they manage to make each space breathe identity and harmony through the materials.
What was the concept behind Burondo and how do you think it is reflected in your projects?
Isa/
I think our studio is based on the idea that we don't understand architecture without the interior. This means that we always look for spaces that are aesthetically pleasing, but at the same time functional. There is a common denominator in all of them: spatial order and authenticity.
Bea/
Absolutely.
Do you have any material, colour, surface or texture that you directly associate with the studio?
Isa/
We always work with real samples of materials. We tend to use noble materials.
Bea/
There is no one material in particular. We are interested in all materials and, above all, in how they age over time.
Isa/
We love mixing: wood, clay, lime, fabrics... It would be difficult to limit ourselves to just one material. We would say that all noble materials are part of our identity.
What is the process of selecting materials for a project like and how important is it in the creative process?
Isa/
We always start from a concept that emerges from conversations with clients or from the context of the place. This helps us to define a colour palette and a selection of materials that guide the whole project, ensuring coherence.
Bea/
The process always starts with the creation of the concept, which sometimes comes from a book, an artist, a landscape... or even a conversation. They are layers of information that add up and lead us to choose one material or another for each project.
Isa/
It helps us a lot when it comes to making decisions throughout the creative process, because we have a well-defined concept from the beginning.
"There is nothing more sustainable than what lasts over time".
Isabel Blanco
When do you know that a material or combination of materials has worked?
Isa/
It is pure intuition. We feel it when it moves us.
Bea/
Exactly. When we prepare the mood boards and we see them all together, we know if it fits or if we need to continue working on it because we are not yet excited about it. It's a process of trial and error, of adding and subtracting, until suddenly we feel it's complete.
What do you think will be the material trends for 2025?
Isa/
We always work with noble materials, so our commitment is always long-term. We look for authentic materials that age well over time, because for us that means sustainability.
Bea/
We try not to get too carried away by trends. At the end of the day, many of the things that are "in" now have always been there. You just have to be attentive to realise it.
Isa/
It's like when you pay attention to the details of everyday life, to everyday rituals, and you realise that what's special is in the simplest things.
Bea/
Also, when a material is authentic and of quality, we tend to take more care of it. And that is, in the end, the most sustainable thing that exists.
Isa/
Yes, we believe that the trend is towards a design that values details more, things that are well made, and that doesn't want everything to remain unalterable. In the end, we all evolve, and our spaces and materials must also evolve, acquiring more beauty over time.
Isa/
And the nice thing is that we usually coincide in that moment of "here it is, now it is".
How do you understand sustainability and how can we experience it in your projects?
Isa/
For us, there is nothing more sustainable than something that lasts.
Bea/
Exactly. The key is to take care of what we have and choose good, authentic materials that will only gain in beauty and character over time.
How do you understand sustainability and how can we experience it in your projects?
Isa/
For us, there is nothing more sustainable than something that lasts.
Bea/
Exactly. The key is to take care of what we have and choose good, authentic materials that will only gain in beauty and character over time.
Two sisters, three questions: one book, one material and one colour.
Isa/
A book, The essential by Miguel Milá. A material, wood, because it is always present in our projects. And a colour, green.
Bea/
A book, Biography of silence by Pablo D'Ors, because our spaces seek that spatial balance and silence. A material, stone, for its versatility. And a colour, brown. We are very brown.
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