todobarro’s pieces at the Ritz-Carlton, Abama, in Tenerife

The iconic Ritz-Carlton hotel chain, known for having brought the concept of luxury to the hotel experience throughout the 20th century, has 108 hotels in more than 130 countries, one of which is Spain. In the heart of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, stands the Ritz-Carlton, Abama. Built in 2005, the hotel was recently renovated. As part of the renovation, handmade todobarro tiles were used to pave the areas around the pools and in the common spaces, including its iconic outdoor staircases.

Originally designed by architect Melvin Villaroel, the hotel underwent a major renovation in 2024 and 2025 following a change in executive leadership. As part of this process to refresh its image and facilities, the hotel incorporated, among other things, terracotta floors and staircases featuring the following todobarro tiles:

—Cuadrado 10 tile, barro Antique, in Marengo color.

—Ladrillo rústico 25×12, barro Antique, in Salmón color.

—Medio ladrillo rústico 25×6, made of Antique clay, in Salmón color.

—Rectángulo 20×6, glazed barro Antique, in a light-gloss Botella verde color (made specifically for this project).

—The floor Girasol 30, barro Antique, in Salmón color.

A fired clay tile floor for the pools of a Persian garden

The hotel complex features multiple pools, some communal and others private. Our tiles are installed on the decking of many of them —since, just as with the suites, the pools also vary in style depending on the area where they are located.

Handcrafted todobarro tiles pave the entire perimeter of these asymmetrical pools, which are nestled within Persian gardens. These spaces, passed down to our architectural heritage through Arab cultures, conceive of gardens as a combination of ceramics, vegetation, and water in which all three elements are equally important and balanced with one another.

Our tiles are the perfect choice for an environment like this because, in addition to their aesthetic value, they possess the necessary physical properties: they contribute to the space’s thermal regulation by absorbing moisture and releasing it slowly, they are not damaged by water, they are easy to maintain, and they are compatible with anti-slip treatments, and they are soft and silky to the touch, making them the perfect surface for walking barefoot.

References to the history of Canarian pottery visible at the Ritz-Carlton

The hotel itself offers, through its architecture, an immediate connection to both its natural and historical surroundings. One aspect of Canarian culture that can be visually identified—if you know where to look—is its pottery tradition. Originally, the archipelago was inhabited by Berber peoples from North Africa. These largely nomadic cultures did not use fired clay as a building material, because firing requires large amounts of fuel that is often unavailable in the desert regions of the Maghreb. However, they did use fired clay to make pots, containers, and other small objects, as reflected in the clay planters scattered all throughout the hotel.

When the Spanish colonizers arrived in the Canary Islands in the 15th century, they introduced the first uses of fired clay as a building material. The local sand and clay gave Canarian bricks their characteristic reddish color, the same color that covers the walls of the hotel.

Appreciating the value of sustainable, handcrafted products

One of the goals of this hotel chain—in addition to providing exquisite service and a myriad of unforgettable experiences for its guests—is to offer a sense of belonging to the destination; an immersion in the local culture that allows guests to enjoy the comfort of the hotel without sacrificing an organic, authentic, and diverse experience.

That authenticity is reflected in our selection of materials and products that are not only of the highest quality but also aligned with a vision that seeks a balance between luxury and uniqueness. It is an honor for us to participate in projects that strive for excellence while recognizing the value of craftsmanship that is sustainable and innovative.