✅ Arabella García López. Architect, designer and founder of Manduka Design.
▷ In a Snapshot
A perfect combination of design and restoration. Using materials that she recycles, she creates unique pieces with exclusive designs, all with the “Made in Mallorca” label. What more could you ask for?
#Talking
1. MANDUKA DESIGN. Architect by profession: How did this project of creating and designing furniture and table accessories come about?
Manduca, in colloquial language, means food, nourishment.
I have always been fascinated by the world of interior design and gastronomy and as a result of this passion, Manduka design was born.In 2012 I visited the Salone del Mobile di Milano, that moment was the starting point.
2. CREATIVITY Where do you find the inspiration for your designs, and how have you managed to keep it active during this confinement?
We live in the countryside, and nature is my greatest source of inspiration. But I also find inspiration in decoration magazines, in movies, in travels, etc.
I am lucky to have the workshop at home, and a lot of outdoor space, so during the confinement I have been able to continue working on my projects and I have also had time to design new collections that I hope to be able to develop in the coming months.
3. MATERIALS. You work with terrazzo, raffia, and now demolition materials. Please tell us how you work with these materials that seem to be a great sustainable option… How do you make the selection?
Terrazzo is a very versatile material that allows many options to be developed. The idea of demolition materials as terrazzo emerged as a result of creating a collection inspired by the islands, which reflects their colors, their landscapes, etc.
4. TALENT. We have seen you turn a panel made for the Aftersun Market in Port Adriano into a screen! What other projects like this can you tell us about?
Actually, all my projects, they try to reconvert. Tiles that go on a tray, terrazzo on coasters, a small table with hydraulic tiles… I use typical construction materials to design furniture and table accessories.
5. COLECTIONS. The last little tables are all named after towns in Mallorca. Is that where you were inspired?
Yes, each little table has a different tile and structure. I have selected the tiles that best represent, for me, the towns that the name of the little table refers to. For the Ses Salines tables, I was inspired by the colors of the sea and the salt mountains in that area.
6. MANDUKA TOP. Your favorite piece? And which one do you recommend as a basic?
My favorite top piece is my kitchen tile design, I love the combination possibilities it offers and the drawings that this pattern creates. Besides, being a drawing that represents skimmers, I think it defines very well my work, that fusion between gastronomy and design.
A basic that should not be missing in a house, is undoubtedly the side table.
✨ Hidden Tips
The Hidden recommendations of Arabella García, designer of Manduka Design, tell us their basics to live a real experience in Mallorca.
“Must go to”: One of my favorite places, among many, is the Lighthouse of Cap de Ses Salines and its little coves in summer or to walk along the coast in winter.
“Must to do”: Walking through the villages of the Sierra Tramuntana, they are a real treasure.
“Must see”: As we walk through the villages of the Sierra Tramuntana, stop to watch the sunset over Sa Foradada.
+ HIDDEN ICONS
