Foundations

Santa & Cole was founded by Nina Masó, Javier Nieto Santa and Gabriel Ordeig Cole in 1985, during a decade of cultural upheaval in Spain, when anything seemed possible in the wake of the dictatorship.

The early days, crafting the lighting for Barcelona’s nightlife, came down to simple ideas and small gestures that somehow transformed spaces. Soon, those experiments led to commissions to light the homes of the regular patrons of those same bars.

At a time when halogen lamps—cool to the touch and bluish in tone—were all the rage, Santa & Cole championed the use of natural materials like wood, stitched parchment, and ribbons. We shifted the mood from technical and cold to human and warm.

From the start, we have believed that the pursuit of a better material culture begins with pieces that speak quietly, endure over time, and serve daily life without ostentation.

Today, we take pride in being editors, placing authors at the center. Our journey began with light, and light remains our cornerstone, even as our interests have grown beyond it. We also edit furniture, books, and art, continuing to seek beauty with rigor and thoughtfulness.

Every object we edit is the result of reflection, dialogue, and consensus. We embrace duality, striving to find balance between function and emotion, craftsmanship and technology, tradition and innovation.

Unhurried and independent of trends, we choose rather than accumulate. We value what is crafted with care and rooted in intention. Quality is born of honesty and responsibility—and, as in love, it’s shaped by the right details.