‘Link’ to Luxury: A Guide on How to Use Aluminium Links for Awe-inspiring Spaces

The phrase, ‘first impression is the last impression’, seems to have been coined specifically for the hospitality industry. Known for its impeccable standards, the ever-morphing industry understands the significance of enchanting guests from the moment they step inside.

Throughout history, hospitality has been synonymous with grandeur and elegance; but today, the essence of modernism takes centre stage, embracing innovation and technology as its driving forces. However, the ultimate goal remains: to curate spaces that transcend time and leave a lasting impression. And one cannot discuss modern art in hospitality without mentioning Kriskadecor!

Clockwise, from above: Kohakinho Restaurant; Linder Cycling Hotel; KI20 Business Centre

The Spanish company’s mesmerising metal-link cascades aim at igniting imagination through breathtaking installations and playful creativity. Take, for example, their ‘aquarium effect’ at the Kohakinho Restaurant in Switzerland, where the art transports diners to an underwater wonderland or the satin sand curtain at the KI20 Business Centre in Budapest, strategically tucking away services or the reproduction of the founder’s face at the Linder Cycling Hotel in Italy, infusing identity and character into the space. 

Inspiration to Installation: An Aluminium Affair

Kriskadecor has embraced the versatility of anodised aluminium and chain links as their primary material and product, respectively. To enable fully customisable solutions, the brand deviates from traditional chain loop structures to develop its own unique variations, Kriska (1970) and Snina (2008) with easy interlink connections. While Kriska is the more durable and highly versatile variant, Snina is its smaller version for high-definition and delicate designs, often used for image reproductions.

A striking example of their capabilities is the Ecuador Pavilion at Milan Expo. One look at the large installation and the personalised possibilities are abundantly clear. Tugging at the emotional history of the Latin American country, a wide range of colours are used to represent the colourful regions of the country, its population, landscape, crafts, ethnic groups, gastronomy and cultural expressions. 

The secret behind this captivating colour vibrancy lies in Kriskadecor’s internal anodisation process. “The quality of our chains comes from this process, enabling us to achieve stability, hardness and an extensive colour palette with brilliant and satin finishes,” explains Natalia Vidal, Communications Manager at Kriskadecor. 

Ecuador Pavilion

The secret behind this captivating colour vibrancy lies in Kriskadecor’s internal anodisation process. “The quality of our chains comes from this process, enabling us to achieve stability, hardness and an extensive colour palette with brilliant and satin finishes,” explains Natalia Vidal, Communications Manager at Kriskadecor. 

From Structure to Story: With Kriskadecor, Bespoke is the only Scope!

Driven by technology and design innovation, Kriskadecor offers optimal installation solutions that push boundaries, as far as mastering the art of replicating the effect of rain. The key lies in their approach: structure first, story later.

The brand conveniently categorises its extensive range of work into customisable collections such as the Feel Free system (room dividers), the Aura collection (lamps), and the Gradient collection (patterns) to name a few. Once the structural and functional aspects are defined, their in-house designers collaborate with technical experts to bring each space to life.

This customer-centric approach extends to the execution stage. Natalia explains, “We provide a wide range of easily accessible ceiling fixing options, and our products are shipped ready to install with clear instructions. Furthermore, our technical department guides customers in selecting the best solution to achieve their desired effect.” As a hassle-free maintenance op, Kriskadecor recommends two cleaning methods for their chains: using water and detergent (pH up to 8) or utilising steam cleaners for those who prefer to avoid chemical agents.

Kriskadecor’s Time-Intensive design process and Sustainable Manufacturing approach

While their solutions may appear effortless in execution, the design process is time-consuming. The brand meticulously assesses special structures, performs cost calculations, and prepares detailed blueprints and assembly instructions. Every piece, from the links to the overall project structure, is created from scratch, ensuring an exclusive result.

With complete control of the entire manufacturing process, Kriskadecor prefers producing tailor-made solutions with steady steps towards sustainability. “We utilise recyclable materials, implement efficient manufacturing processes, and promote the reuse and repurposing of products. Additionally, aluminium is a material with infinite recycling cycles. 20% of the aluminium in our chains is recycled,” reveals Natalia.

“We provide a wide range of easily accessible ceiling fixing options, and our products are shipped ready to install with clear instructions. Furthermore, our technical department guides customers in selecting the best solution to achieve their desired effect.”
–Natalia Vidal, Communications Manager at Kriskadecor

Light, Sound and Vision: Kriskadecor’s Metal Mastery

While the ‘one material, one product’ policy simplifies design, it does not exempt them from facing other challenges. One such challenge arose while collaborating with Japanese architect Kengo Kuma on Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Batlló. “To execute his tribute to Gaudí’s use of Mediterranean light, our lightweight chain links dress the new eight-storey staircase, capturing the light and creating an ever-changing experience from the rooftop’s brightness to the dark depths of the coal bunkers. However, there was an issue of sound interference. Our technical department intervened and devised innovative acoustic panels that covered the ceiling above the chains, effectively neutralising the noise,” explains Natalia. 

Casa Battlo and Westfield Mall

Handling large-scale projects is another formidable adversary. Recalling the balancing act they faced – managing existing customers while scaling up production for the Westfield Mall project in the Netherlands – Natalia avers, “We manufactured 30 panels with a total area of 3,020 square metres. That is equivalent to 235 km, enough to cover the entire territory of the Netherlands from end to end. In terms of production time, this project required 2400 working hours (300 full days), including 800 manufacturing and 1050 man-hours. Despite the challenge, the team successfully powered through to deliver exceptional results.”

Craftsmanship and Colour: Kriskadecor’s Metal Legacy

The story of Kriskadecor began in 1926 in Montblanc when Josep Maria Sans Amil developed his own machinery to produce iron chain curtains. It was a humble beginning, but the brand’s commitment to creating everything from scratch laid the foundation for its future success. Then, approximately three decades later, the business took a significant leap forward when Josep Maria Sans Folch, the founder’s son, improved the technique to work with anodised aluminium, opening up a world of colour possibilities.

Today, the family-run business creates highly customised projects made with anodised aluminium links, offering architects and interior designers a wide range of solutions such as space dividers, wallcovering, ceilings, façades, lighting elements, and custom special structures. Post-collaborating with renowned professionals in the field and establishing a subsidiary in the United States, Kriskadecor’s goal is still unwavering – to empower imagination and bring innovation to life.