Slow Design with STUA
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Slow Design with STUA
In 2025, we are celebrating our 25 year anniversary representing STUA; a family-owned furniture & design company based in San Sebastián, Spain. To mark the occasion, we asked Jon Gasca, Creative Lead of STUA a series of questions about STUA’s design mantra; Slow Design.
The concept of Slow Design embodies STUA’s reflective process behind each of their designs and greater focus as a company as a whole. Founded by Jesus Gasca & Marina Quevedo in 1983, the company is now in the hands of the second generation, Elen Gasca as CEO and Jon Gasca as Creative Lead. The thoughtful journey behind each collection always aims to improve their environment with greater comfort, unique shapes and durable furniture built to last.
The latest focus on Slow Design aligns with the opening of STUA’s new headquarters in Spain, positioned next to their manufacturing facility and overlooking a small bamboo forest and river. The building is a project by Jesús Gasca and Jon Gasca, designed so the interiors are in dialogue with the surrounding nature.
The headquarters house the latest collection from STUA, the timeless Petal table, alongside their other well known designs such as Globus chair, Gas chair, Costura lounge and Deneb outdoor seating.
What does the idea of Slow Design mean to you?
At STUA, our approach is thoughtful and intentional. We invest significant time into each new design, ensuring it’s not only smart and relevant, but also timeless. This is why over 40 years we have produced only 20 designs. Releasing a new product every second year allows us to create products built to last.
What does it mean to work & design alongside your family?
It’s all I’ve ever known to be a part of this family and company, so for me, working alongside my family feels natural. We live and breathe STUA, and this deep-rooted connection shapes everything we do.
How does fashion inspire you and impact STUA’s designs?
One of the stories I like to tell is that San Sebastián was hometown to fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga. My grandmother was working in the atelier as a seamstress and she would tell us stories about Balenciaga. She would explain to us their design concepts and one was how the most important detail of a woman’s dress should always be the back. This is a lesson we integrated into many of our designs, and you see this in designs like Globus.
How do you ensure comfort is incorporated into STUA’s product offering?
Comfort is our top priority. We’re obsessed with refining it. Each design goes through extensive testing with dozens of prototypes to ensure we achieve the ideal level of comfort before finalising the product.
How does your environment in San Sebastián inspire you?
Our local environment plays a significant role in shaping our designs. We prioritise sourcing materials close to home, such as steel and timber. This gives us a unique expertise with these materials, which we use to create high-quality, durable products.
What do you think of the interiors & homes you see in Australia?
I admire the strong emphasis Australian designers place on sustainability. Their focus on using eco-friendly materials is not only meaningful but truly inspiring.
Is there a particular STUA product that is especially meaningful to you personally?
The last one, always. That is the youngest kid in the family, so Petal means a lot to me now. It’s a balance of playfulness and elegance, sculptural yet light. This is a difficult balance and I am very proud of what we have achieved.
View Stua
STUA’s new Spanish Headquarters highlights their residential offering on the ground floor. The project was created in collaboration with Guerreo Estudio, and offers vistors the opportunity to move through the home areas, contract and even view the STUA team’s offices as part of the experience.