Highlights from Feria Hábitat València

Despite weather warnings that led to the postponement of the event by a day, Feria Hábitat València closed its doors on one of the most remarkable editions in its long history. “It has been a resounding success, without a doubt,” said Vicente Pons, President of the Hábitat Organizing Committee. “The fair managed to overcome the adverse circumstances of not being able to open on the first scheduled day. We adjusted schedules, reorganised our programme of conferences, presentations and special events, and did our best to meet commitments with buyers’ travel and accommodation. It was a great effort by the entire Feria Hábitat València team, and it has been rewarded with a successful edition.” The Valencian businessman also highlighted “the exhibitors’ strong business performance.”

This year’s edition of both Hábitat and Textilhogar will be remembered for the impact – direct or symbolic – of weather conditions. Not only because a severe weather alert forced both fairs to postpone their opening by a day, but also because of the lingering memory within Valencia’s industry of the devastating DANA storm of less than one year ago. A clear example of this was the memorial located on Level 3 in collaboration with Temasdos, which paid tribute to the resilience of Valencia’s furniture industry, and the exhibition by National Design Award winner Héctor Serrano, who, in addition to reviewing his 25-year career, presented ‘Raíces’, a collection of lamps made from wood debris collected after the DANA.

The opening session included two blocks of presentations. In the first, Pedro García (Vivood), Joan Baptista Boronat (Arqueha) and Felipe Vietes (Ruiz Larrea Arquitectura) shared their visions of innovative projects in architecture and hospitality. The second block brought together Vicenç Morant (GVI Gómez Vázquez Internacional), Gema Alfaro (Alfaro & Manrique) and Fran Silvestre (Fran Silvestre Arquitectos), who offered insights into creativity, signature design and new solutions in the hotel sector. Both sessions were moderated by Ramón Garayar (GAT Hospitality) and Jesús Menéndez (Estelae Hoteles).

The programme also included two roundtables. The first, with Hilario Salvador (Indeco Global), Raquel Sanjuán (Raquel Sanjuán Interiorismo), Sara Sanchis (Rusticae), Leslie Helfrich (Finsa) and Albano Moreno (Kave Home), focused on the importance of craftsmanship, interior design and creating unique guest experiences. The second roundtable brought together Carlos Castaño (Anrobox), Pascual Jordán (OCN), Ángel Alfocea (Wes Panel) and José Baillach (Minimal Suites), who discussed industrial innovation, sustainable construction and new models of tourist accommodation. The session highlighted the need to integrate wellbeing, responsible design and discreet technology into hotel spaces, consolidating a model of conscious and sustainable luxury.

Interior designer Tomás Alía, winner of the Gold Medal for Fine Arts in 2022, designed a sustainable hotel under the most deeply rooted Valencian architectural tradition. His installation, ‘Barracas’ for ‘Hotel Hábitat 2025’, will include eight suites designed by leading names such as Pascua Ortega, Odosdesign, Cosín Estudio, Studio HC and MMain Martínez Medina. Another highlight was Salón nude, which showcased proposals by young design talents from 25 studios and design schools.