This Culinary School in Spain Features a Labyrinthine Bunker-Turned-Bar
In the coastal town of Castellón, a 19th-century villa with a military history now hosts a culinary institute called Gasma.
Hidden behind an ivied gate in the Spanish town of Castellón, Gasma is a culinary school with a campus set within the historic Villa Dolores, originally built in 1879. The grounds include an idyllic garden, a pool, kitchens, and classrooms—as well as a wine cellar and bar that used to be a bomb shelter. The bunker is a testament to the myriad roles the villa has served throughout its 141 years: dating back to the agricultural revolution of the late 19th century, it produced citrus before serving turns as military headquarters, a currency factory, and the U.S. embassy during the Spanish Civil War.
Gasma’s state-of-the-art facilities are housed in a traditional Spanish villa with terra-cotta tiles, plaster walls, and wood trim.
Photo: Jenny Xie
Though rooted in history, Gasma keeps up with the times: the well-equipped, forward-thinking classrooms and test kitchens belie the traditional, gabled building that holds them. Throughout the grounds, surfaces have been clad in hardy Neolith, a sintered stone product made from raw materials that have been compressed under colossal pressure and baked in extreme heat. Customizable to mimic virtually any type of surface, resistant to heat and scratching, nonporous, nonslip, and easy to clean, it’s a natural material selection for the school’s countertops and walls.
In one of Gasma’s test kitchens, a Neolith Calacatta countertop provides chefs with a design-forward and practical work surface. It’s so heat resistant, in fact, that it can withstand being torched, and can help keep dishes warm. Neolith slabs come in many sizes and thicknesses depending on the use.
Courtesy of Neolith
A large show kitchen, bounded by glass, hosts classes and demonstrations. A Neolith Basalt black countertop holds a row of sinks. The material is durable enough for students to chop directly on the countertops, too.
Courtesy of Neolith
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