What lies behind the materials and finishes we see in an interior?

As part of the COIL — Collaborative Online International Learning programme, PUCMM’s Materials & Construction Techniques II course connected with Technical Installations for Bathrooms & Kitchens, taught by Arq. José Ruedas at Universidad Santo Tomás de Villavicencio, Colombia.

The collaboration brought together interior design and architecture students from two countries to explore the relationship between materials, finishes and the technical systems behind bathrooms and kitchens.

Beyond the Surface

The exercise allowed students to understand a space from two complementary perspectives.

On one side: materials, textures, finishes and aesthetics.

On the other: sanitary installations, technical requirements and construction systems.

By bringing both together, students could understand that good design depends not only on what we see, but also on how it is technically resolved.

Learning Across Cultures

An unexpected part of the exchange was discovering how construction terminology changes between countries.

Although both groups worked in Spanish, students encountered different words for materials, components and technical elements used in the Dominican Republic and Colombia.

The Global Classroom therefore became more than a technical exercise. It was an opportunity to understand how design, construction and professional language change across contexts.

Because understanding a material also means understanding what happens behind it.

Collaboration
PUCMM × Universidad Santo Tomás de Villavicencio

Countries
Dominican Republic × Colombia

Year
2022

Professors
Sarah Tió · José Ruedas

Topics
Materials · Construction · Technical Installations · Interior Design · Cross-Cultural Learning