It was the year 1932 when Antonio Riera Clariana founded his metalworking workshop called Metal Artes located on Madrazo street in Barcelona. Ten years later and under the name Metalarte, the workshop began manufacturing lamps, its first design being named 'Nº1' and which would mark the beginning of a prosperous career in the decorative lighting sector.
The big change for Metalarte came in the early seventies with the arrival of the prestigious designer André Ricard. "Until that date, Metalarte published its own designs, but with Ricard's arrival, the firm became a true design publisher," explains Tomeu Gomila, brand manager of Metalarte.
One of the firm's most emblematic collections is Josephine, designed by Jaime Hayón from Madrid; its models are composed of a porcelain structure and chintz fabric shades.This great pioneer of industrial design in Spain "was accompanied by other names such as Josep Lluscà or Jaume Tresserra who also contributed to transforming a black and white Spain into one of the most important global poles of design," Gomilla continues.
The firm's relationship with designers and design has been key to its development, allowing it to consolidate a DNA that is constantly enriched and affirmed. "Designers are the main attraction for Metalarte; establishing a relationship of trust with them is key," he adds.
Metalarte's catalog includes collaborations with seven National Design Award winners such as André Ricard himself or Josep Lluscá, as well as Miguel Milà, Antoni Arola, Alberto Liévore, Pepe Cortés, and Mario Ruiz. And, in recent years, with the participation of renowned designers such as Jaime Hayón or Lázaro Rosa-Violán.
Dedicated to the decorative lighting sector, Metalarte offers a wide range of proposals, from floor, pendant, wall, or table lamps, to large-sized and outdoor lamps.
In a review of his career and principles, Gomila explains that the most important thing during all this time has been to remain faithful to his values, to the quality of his products, and to innovate in the creation of new concepts and generate his own style. It has also been of vital importance to avoid fads and trends. On the contrary, to focus on pieces that can become design classics such as the Calder table lamp designed in the seventies by the Catalan Enric Franch; the elegant Alta Costura born during the Barcelona Olympic Games and a design by Josep Aregall or the L'Escala floor lamp designed in 1983 by Estudi Blanc.
In addition to its commitment to design, the company has had to adapt to changes and contexts, seeing in each of them a new opportunity to grow and evolve. Since 2002, it has been part of the Luxiona group, whose CEO is Javier Tey and the general management is in charge of Javier Santafe. In addition to Metalarte, Luxiona groups the firms Troll dedicated to the technical sector; Sagelux for emergency lighting and Josfel for the Peruvian market. As a result of this change, in 2013 Metalarte changed its headquarters in Sant Joan Despí to move to Luxiona's in Canovelles, Barcelona.
The Eva lamp, designed by Lázaro Rosa-Violán for Metalarte, has just received the 'Light Middle East Awards 2018' as "decorative lamp of the year" during the 13th edition of this lighting fair held in Dubai.But not only the company has evolved, also "the client has changed", explains Tomeu Gomila. Until the late nineties, the firm's main client was the individual looking for a lighting piece for their home. After the year 2000 and, subsequently during the years 2008 and 2013 in the period of economic crisis, the brand made a strategic turn focusing on the contract sector, hotels, restaurants… Areas where, in addition, "it finds great synergy with other brands of the group such as Troll and Sagelux", adds Gomila.
With seven factories worldwide and distributors in different countries, 70 percent of Metalarte's market is outside of Spain. Regarding where the sector is headed, Gomilla says that, "personalization is increasingly important, as is working on projects from the beginning with the interior designer." For what's to come, the brand director is clear: "new products in collaboration with national and international designers, a new website, and renewing and growing agreements with important international distributors to boost our presence abroad."