Interior Design students create an installation for the Sant Francesc cloister in Montblanc
Their project, “The memory that rises,” evokes the vaults of European religious architecture with aluminum chains in Kriskadecor’s centenary exhibition.
A few days ago, the cloister of Sant Francesc in Montblanc unveiled “The Memory That Rises,” a temporary aluminum chain installation conceived by four second-year students in the Advanced Vocational Training Program in Projects and Direction of Decoration Works. Erik Franco, Ana Guibernau, Lorena Pérez, and Irene Bringué developed the proposal, tutored by their professor, María Flaqué.
A project for Kriskadecor’s centennial
Kriskadecor, a company specializing in aluminum chains, is celebrating a century of history with “100 years inspiring emotions,” a temporary exhibition that transforms several landmark spaces in Montblanc. It features projects created by design and architecture schools, ours among them.
Our students took on the challenge of creating an intervention in the cloister of Sant Francesc, a place that for centuries was synonymous with silence, contemplation, and community life. Although the passage of time has erased much of its physical presence, it lives on in the city’s collective memory.
Between the earthly and the spiritual
Rather than rebuilding what was lost, the project recovers its essence. It proposes a connection between the earthly plane and a higher, spiritual one through vaults inspired by European religious architecture that engage with the site. The volumes rise from the ground toward the sky, evoking the verticality of Gothic architecture, where height symbolized the ascent of the soul.
The colors reinforce this idea: the luminous finishes suggest light, strength, and purity, and the transparency of the chains changes how the piece is perceived throughout the day.
From the classroom to a real-world space
Seeing a classroom proposal turn into an intervention in a heritage setting brings students closer to professional practice. Congratulations to Erik, Ana, Lorena, and Irene, and to faculty member María Flaqué, for work that reflects our commitment to connecting the classroom with real-world projects.
*Images: Marcela Grassi.