The
Italians are famous for their design sense. From the clothing and accessories
they design to their timeless architecture and art work, and of course their
legendary sports cars. There is no limit to their imagination.
The
same determination applies to their design sense when it comes to tile. From
Venetian glass mosaic tiles, to ceramic tile that closely resembles heavy
brocade patterns, to the crispness of summery linens, it seems the Italians
have perfected the art of mimicry.
During
the recently held Coverings tile and stone show held in Atlanta, Italian tile
manufacturers unveiled their creativity and ingenuity with new twists on
patchwork type styles, state-of-the-art anti-bacterial and self-cleaning tiles,
time-tested encaustic and majolica patterns, fabric-like textures and
embossing, large-format tiles, and quick-installation ceramic tile systems.
Matching is
Overrated
Patchworks
tiles, such as “Minoo” by Marcel Wander for Bardelli, feature ornate
8”x8” porcelain floor tiles in five silkscreen patterns reminiscent of Persian
rugs.
For Mosaico+, renowned mosaic artist Carlo Dal
Bianco used mosaics from the company’s various lines to create a series of new
decorations. For the “Lacquer” and Inlay” series, he used iridescent mosaics
from the Perle collection and square glass chips from Concerto to invoke
ancient Chinese dynasties.
For a mixed color palette, Ceramica Sant’Agostino’s
“Abita” collection of 8”x24” white body wall tiles boast a diamond effect in
three chromatic mixes of beige, lilla and menta.
Philippe Starck also played a role within the ceramic
tile sector with the launch of “Flexible Architecture” for Italian manufacturer
Ceramica Sant’Agostino. The decorative, modular tile can be specified on one to
four sides of the tile or on no sides at all to create an endless array of architectural
compositions.
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| “Minoo” by Marcel Wander for Bardelli. |
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| "Lacquer" by Mosaico+ |
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| "Abita" by Ceramica Sant’Agostino |
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| Philippe Starck's “Flexible Architecture” for Ceramica Sant’Agostino. |
Antibacterial & Self-Cleaning
Ceramic tile is inherently hygienic. It contains no
VOCs, so it was only natural for Italian manufacturers to collaborate with biotech
companies to offer products that promote the antibacterial, antipollution and
self-cleaning properties of ceramics.
Among the latest to develop these types of tiles
are Fincibec with “Antibact”, Century with “Technica”, Mirage with its “Sundeck”
(its zero maintenance decking product), and Panaria, Lea Ceramiche and Cotto
d’Este (all part of the Panaria Group) with their antibacterial floor and wall
tiles for residential and commercial applications.
Further, as an industry first, Casalgrande Padana
unveiled “Bios Self Cleaning Ceramics” that uses HYDROTECT technology from the
Japanese brand, TOTO, to create self-cleaning, anti-bacterial and
pollution-reducing tiles. The HYDROTECT coating contains two active agents:
titanium dioxide, which is photo-catalytic; and a well-balanced formulation of
metals that offer antibacterial and antivirus properties. The technology is
especially useful for exterior cladding and can be applied to all Casalgrande
Padana products.
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| Lea Ceramiche's "BioPlank" |
Vintage Encaustic, Majolica
Inspired by vintage encaustic and majolica tiles,
old world historical charm has been renewed with new fervor thanks to high-tech
printing methods.
Of these unique collections is “Azulej” – the
latest porcelain tiles designed by Patricia Urquiola for Mutina. Inspired by ancient
handcrafted majolica made of hydraulic cement, the 8”x8” glazed porcelain tiles
are available in three neutral base colors (white, light grey and dark grey) in
a choice of nine patterns or as a combination of 27 different designs. Following
this trend is the Majolica pattern of Refin’s “Frame” collection. Designed by
graphic design firm Studio FM, the large 30”x30” square tiles feature
traditional decors from majolica tiles of the 19th and 20th
centuries but presented in a more graphic light.
“Vintage” by Cerim, “Cotto Vogue” by Cir and
“Concept” by Ragno are a few other collections featuring this unique look.
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| Vintage by Cerim. |
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| "Azulej" by Mutina designed by Patricia Urquiola. |
Planking with Style
The lines of wood and ceramic are blurred once
again with a wide-range of plank-sized tiles that made an appearance at
Coverings. Not only do these longer tiles resemble wood, but they are now
taking on the look of concrete and stone.
“Sunrock” by Atlas Concorde is available in a range
of formats including 6”x36” and 9”x36” while Coem’s “Pietra del Friuli”,
inspired by stones found in the northeast of Italy, also comes in a 6”x36”
plank size. ImolaCeramica’s “Vein” collection mimics vein-cut or cross-cut
marble, and Ceramiche Caesar’s “Wabi” is inspired by oak.
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| Wabi by Ceramiche Caesar. |
Tactile Textiles
Textiles and ceramic tile seem to be enjoying a
heavenly relationship within the Italian manufacturing arena. From Raw Edge’s
second collection for Mutina called “Tex,” a rich, three-dimensional and
multi-colored collection of 4.5”x8” rhombus-shaped glazed porcelain tiles, to
the “I Tessuti” collection created by Elena Strafella for Cottoveneto, the
range of fabric-inspired patterns are not only realistically breathtaking, but
they also capture the essence of the designer’s soul.
Additional textile-inspired products include Marazzi’s
“Silkstone” line whose decorative ceramic wall tiles are inspired by Indian
saris, Japanese kimonos, tulle and silk.
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| Marazzi's "SilkStone" |
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| "I Tessuti" by Cottoveneto |
Large-Format Tiles
In their continuous evolution to better serve the
A+D communities, large-format tiles are becoming increasingly comfortable in
various settings and environments.
For example Novabell’s “Avant” collection is available
in a heavy-duty 20mm paving version in a 24”x24” format and special R12
anti-slip finish while Ceramiche Keope’s “Pecorsi SMART” tiles are available in
five stone looks and a 24”x24”x¾” size. Pastorelli’s new 2cm-thick “Quartz
Design” series features the same sparkling reflections as quartz flecks, while “Sunrock”
from Atlas Concorde gets its inspiration from Travertine.
Further innovations in the large-format tile circle
come from Cotto d’Este’s Kerlite series, “Exedra”; Panaria’s “LightQuartz”; “Micron
2.0” by ImolaCeramica; “Gli Alabastri di Rex” by Rex; and “Industrial” by Floor
Gres, which reinterprets cement in porcelain slabs as large as 1.2m x 3m.
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| "Industrial" by Floor Gres. |
Lastly, “Studies in Gouache” a tile product
designed by Diego Grandi for Lea Ceramiche – is the first slim tile with a
contemporary bas-relief design. The four decors (grid, scratch, weave and moire
b) feature geometric and abstract patterns engraved and sanded into the 3mm
tiles. They are offered in the same chromatic range as the company’s
“Gouache.10” collection.
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| “Studies in Gouache” a tile product designed by Diego Grandi for Lea Ceramiche. |
So,
which of these Italian tile designs is your favorite? How and where would you
use it in your next project?