Ceramic and bathroom furnishing under the spotlights #MCaroundCersaie The 2016 edition of Cersaie, the international exhibition of architectural ceramic and bathroom furnishings held in the Italian city of Bologna, came to an end on Friday 30 September, having received an all-time record of 50,976 international visitors (+5.7% on 2015). After years of stasis, Italian visitor numbers were up too, at 55,625 (+3.8%). As well as confirming the positive trend in progress, these figures also highlight the distinctively international character of the event. were from outside Italy. Ceramic tile manufacturers were the largest contingent, with 491 exhibitor companies (including 237 from abroad), followed by bathroom furnishing, with 194 companies, and manufacturers of wood and natural stone coverings and wallpaper. The trade show also hosted a wide range of special events staged by big names from the world of architecture, which attracted considerable interest from visitors. One of the best-attended initiatives was the keynote lecture by Lord Norman Foster, the eighth Pritzker Prize winner to address the event, which attracted an audience of about 2,000 people. Others included the Cer-Sail exhibition by Angelo Dall Aglio and Davide Vercelli; the Building Dwelling Thinking programme of cultural conferences, which involved a series of architectural case studies by Solano Benitez, Aires Mateus, Grafton Architects and Ugo La Pietra; and lastly, a range of technical workshops held in Tiling Town. So join us on a guided tour of the latest trends and products unveiled during the week. 5 In total, over 106,000 visitors came to the show, representing an increase of 4.7% on 2015. The six exhibition areas, with floorspace of 156,000 sq.m, played host to 852 exhibitors from 43 different countries (4 more than in 2015), of which 335 - almost a third of the total - 66
MAYBE NOT ALL KNOW THAT Over 3,000 people visited the Tile International / MaterialiCasa.com stand at Cersaie and subscribed to our newsletter. Do you? Subscribe! Visit (and share!) our Cersaie'e gallery! 79
Piemme Already previewed at the Salone del Mobile in Milan and winner of the ADI Ceramics Design Award 2016, the Bits&Pieces collection, developed in collaboration with Gordon Guillaumier, features graphic subjects that put a modern slant on traditional motifs. Playing on material and styles, the designer replaces square marble with split wood accents among the Bits field tiles, and uses square marble accents reminiscent of the classic Palladian style to offset the graniglia field tiles of Pieces. Claymood fuses the aesthetics of two materials, clay and cement mortar, to create an all-new mood. The four delicate shades feature variegated effects that bring a sober dynamism to the environment. Marazzi & Ragno Powder, the new ceramic floor and wall tile by Marazzi (picture on top), is a reinterpretation of urban concrete in porcelain ceramic. Featuring a soft surface finish, its random, nuanced graphics and subtle ring marks emphasise the imperfection of the material. The collection is available in five colours (three warm: Sand, Crete and Mud and two cold: Smoke and Graphite) and three formats 75x150 edge-ground, 75x75 edgeground and hexagonal tile in size 21x18.2. The trim pieces include a Decò accent, a composition of hexagonal tiles in one warm and one cold variant, a Liberty accent in size 75 x75 also in a warm and a cold variant, and a 30x30 mosaic in all colours. There's a new product from Ragno too, in the shape of Terracruda, a ceramic that draws inspiration from ancient construction materials made of sun-dried clay and straw. The non-reflective, satin-effect surface is soft to the touch and comes in a range of contemporary colours. The surface graphics give the walls a natural dynamism, while the three-dimensional structure of the accents and mosaics enhance the effect with plays of light and shade. 68
Visit (and share!) our Cersaie'e gallery! Porcelanosa Foster+Partners has designed a collection of bathroom furnishings and accessories for Noken, a Gruppo Porcelanosa brand. The new collection combines the characteristically refined styling of the architect with the high quality materials of the leading Spanish manufacturer. The TONO collection consists of two versions, Tono Elements and Tono One, which form part of a single, integrated system, offering a vast range of finishes, materials and colours. The minimalist styling of the entire line highlights the purity of the form, so that the starring role is played by the design of the vanity units in natural maple, walnut and oak, the washbasins and sanitaryware in limestone, marble, ceramic and Krion, and the taps and fittings in metal. Ceramica Rondine Brick Generation by Ceramica Rondine has had a fresh injection of colour thanks to a partnership with the designer Andrea Castrignano. The Urban&Colors series of glazed porcelain tile, for example, uses soft, powdery colours ranging from blue to brown, to create a modern, lively, exposed brick effect. The new Squary line from the Amarcord collection, meanwhile, features high-impact graphics, and reinterprets classic "cementina" with original, rhythmic patterns, which are ideal for contemporary interiors and come in size 30x60. 69
Listone Giordano & Inkiostro Bianco A partnership between Listone Giordano and Inkiostro Bianco Lab has spawned Undici, a model for experimentation with wood, in which parquet, the ultimate living material, is engraved by means of an innovative laser technique developed by the creative laboratory for surface decoration. These indelible hollows and incisions turn the wood into a fully fled low-relief sculpture. Italgraniti Innovative Slabs is the concept behind the latest ceramics from Italgraniti Group. Large-format tiles forming part of the Mega Project take centre stage, and offer stone, wood and marble effects in panels measuring 120x240 and 120x120 cm with a thickness of 6 mm. Other new releases include Sands Experience, a range of through-body porcelain floor and wall tiles that draw inspiration from sedimentary rock and sandstone, available in three versions, with either a natural, polished or three-dimensional finish and a thickness of 9.5 mm, in the Mega variant, and with a thickness of 20 mm for the outdoor version. 70
Visit (and share!) our Cersaie'e gallery! Sant Agostino The Ceramica Sant Agostino range comprises seven lines of porcelain ceramic panels, ranging from medium to large formats, namely 90x180 and 120x120. Having introduced fabric effects into the world of ceramic, the company has now developed the concept with the launch of Tailorart: in the photo, the three-dimensional ceramic surface combines with the texture of madras, in three neutral tones. Kale Italia The Kale Italia Group brands have also extended their ranges aimed at the world of interior design. Edilgres presents Lin Side, which features a distinctive fabric effect, and replicates the micro-undulations of woven linen, mixed with a concrete base in a corresponding range of tones. Edilcuoghi also had a selection of products on display, such as the Wornwood and Groove series. The former draws inspiration from traditional craftsmanship and the latter from 1950s and '60s styling, with a focus on small format (8x32 cm) wall tiling. Campani stands out for its LeTavole collection, a large-format (20x120) wood-effect porcelain tile, which is ideal for interiors intended to reflect quintessentially Italian design and styling. The Legni range has also expanded, with new colours that enrich the Listoni 15.90 series. 83
ABK At Cersaie, ABK presented Wide, a Flaviker-branded project for contemporary architecture, comprising ceramic panels in six different sizes, of up to 320x160 cm, with a thickness of just 7 mm, in line with new trends for spring 2017. The new large formats bring you the elegance of SENSI marble and the character of INTERNO9 acidtreated metals, not to mention ALPES, the new collection that encompasses the aesthetics of a variety of natural stones. Casalgrande Padana The collaboration between Pininfarina Design and Casalgrande Padana is continuing to bear fruit. The Earth collection of porcelain tile that marked the beginning of the partnership, has been extended with new colours and finishes. The extensive colour palette and their availability in large formats makes them ideal for the creative tiling of both floors and walls. The accents draw inspiration directly from the automotive world, with exceptionally clean lines and unique materials and finishes, such as coachwork paint, premium wood and leather. 84
Visit (and share!) our Cersaie'e gallery! Coop. Ceramica Imola The dynamic power of diagonals lie at the heart of X-Rock, a new line of coverings by Ceramica d Imola: X expresses the innovative character of the collection, while Rock alludes to its rock-inspired design. Its visually swirling surface evokes slowly and naturally formed flaking strata of rock, but to the touch it is smooth and undimpled. The project is made of through-body porcelain ceramic, in four colours - beige, white, grey and black - and three sizes - 60x120, 60x60 and 30x60 cm - complete with mosaics. Iris Ceramica A fusion of artisan craftsmanship and ceramic technology. This is the concept that lies at the root of the new collection by Iris Ceramica, in which porcelain tiles reinterpret the style of Renaissance majolica. So tradition returns to the spotlight and provides the inspiration for a contemporary look. Majolica decorates the environment with a palette of warm, lively colours. The textured appearance of the tiles is enhanced by their nuances and imperfections, which give them an authentically handmade look. Available in sizes 10x30, 20x20 and 60x20 cm, with polished finish, these tiles are modular so that they can be used freely in conjunction with each other. 73
Emilceramica EVO-Q by Emilceramica is a quartzite that reworks current trends and expresses understated taste through its natural stone colours: white, sand, light grey and dark grey. Available in a wide variety of formats, finishes and textures, it is the ideal accompaniment to a broad range of different environments. The series includes rectangular formats, such as 80x180, which are the perfect vehicle for showcasing its vein patterns. Its distinctive character lies in its skilfully crafted, chiselled and bush-hammered effects, that highlight the white content of the material, giving it a three-dimensional appearance. Del Conca Extra-large formats are the focus of Ceramica Del Conca's latest products, which include the new Superface line of large-format panels and floorboards designed to give a seamless look to flooring. Two new collections of throughbody porcelain tile for indoor applications are particularly faithful exponents of this concept. The first is Orto Botanico, which creates a wood effect in grey, beige and walnut. In addition to the new 20x180 and 26.5x180 formats, the collection also includes trim pieces such as mosaics and steps. The second is Pandora, which draws inspiration from industrial environments, and replicates its concrete effects, for a modern, minimalist aesthetic. 74
Visit (and share!) our Cersaie'e gallery! Francesco De Maio The colours of the sea and sky in the 30 white and blue accents that Gio Ponti created between 1960 and 1962 for the floor tiling of the lobby and 100 rooms of the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Sorrento: this is the starting point for the Blu Ponti collection by Ceramica Francesco De Maio, made up of 20x20cm majolica pieces with a thickness of 14 mm. All strictly hand-decorated, they reproduce the glaze, colour tones, dimensions and patterns of those iconic 1960s pieces by the Italian architect, designer and essayist, who was one of the leading figures in 20 th Century design. Gruppo Romani Gruppo Romani recently launched a wide range of new products under its various brands. The inaugural project from Cerasarda Design is Abitare la Terra, a collection of glazed porcelain and single-fired whitebody tile designed by Maria Luisa Brighenti. It draws inspiration from the Sardinian landscape to create small-format tiles steeped in harmonious colours and textures. Cercom has launched a complete system of through-body porcelain tiles for contemporary architecture, which emulates five different families of stone. Brera, Multicolor, Pietra Blu, Lavagna and Piacentina are the nuances and effects that characterise Stone Box, which is available in 6 sizes with natural, lapped or R11 finish. Havana, a collection by Cir, has created a porcelain tile collection based on the atmospheres of Caribbean towns. Available in 5 sizes and embellished with exclusive accents, the series is ideal for creating original atmospheres in both residential and commercial environments. Newport 2.0, the latest product from Serenissima, opts for a wood effect, whose hallmark is simplicity. Available in two sizes - 30x120 and 20x120 - and numerous wood types. 75
Polis Stile Urbano elegantly blends the simplicity of intense neutrals and pure white with the vitality of graphics that evoke urban scenes and materials such as concrete, iron, limestone, brick and plaster, which inspire the colours of the tiles. This through-boy porcelain tile collection is available in sizes 60x120, 60x60, 45x90, 45x45, 30x60 and 75x75. Bardelli A collection that travels through time and reworks the series that first saw the light of day in the late 1980s: Tekne, a new collection of ceramic wall tiles designed for the company by Florence-born architect Daniele Bedini, is made up of double-fired tiles with a matt finish and distinctive texture. The uniqueness of the system lies in its modularity, encompassing four mixable colours and accents with a raised geometric pattern and optical effect that changes with the light, in a size 20x20 cm tile with a thickness of 8 mm. 76
Visit (and share!) our Cersaie'e gallery! Original Parquet The Naturalizzati collection is the result of the company s unceasing commitment to supplying products that meet the highest aesthetic and quality standards. A special six-stage treatment with water-based wax and UV oil keeps the natural appearance of the wood intact and gives it an outstanding level of impermeability and consequent stain-resistance. This complex process gives rise to wood flooring that is safe in all conditions, has a natural look and is soft and velvety to the touch.the collection includes large formats, measuring 31 cm wide by over 2 metres long, for large areas, as well as smaller formats for smaller rooms. Fondovalle Dream, the new collection of porcelain wall tile by Fondovalle, with a thickness of 6.5 cm, draws inspiration from the natural fibre of linen, in three pastel colours in keeping with the aesthetic principles of Scandinavian design. The collection is also embellished with a natural landscape in the form of the Woods decoration, which includes 4 different subjects, all available in sizes 120x240 and 60x120. 77
Cotto D Este Backstage porcelain tile is inspired by the wood of the stage, which is accustomed to being under the spotlight and the centre of attention. It's an original project available with two surface finishes: Paint, which is painted in single colours, and Brush, which has a more rustic, sanded, timeworn look. Made from Kerlite 5plus, Backstage is slim, strong, easy to install and ideal for modern residential and commercial environments. Available in four colours (White, Beige, Grey and Black), in size 20x150. Panaria Panaria is keeping step with the most up-to-the minute modern-classic design trends with Trilogy, an interpretation of classic marble created with three technologies - porcelain ceramic, slim laminated porcelain ceramic and single-fired porous ceramic - combined into a single collection. The five colours, meanwhile - Calacatta White, Onyx Light, Moon Beige, Sandy Grey and Sky Smoke - reflect a range of classic marbles. As well as a wide range of floor and wall tiles in sizes from 60x60 to 100x300, Trilogy also offers a good selection of decorative pieces. 78
Visit (and share!) our Cersaie'e gallery! Qutone Ceramics Qutone Ceramics presents i-marble, the new and innovation tile collection with enhanced strength, large size, several designs and textures and great resistance to scratches. The big and elegant slabs in marble effect are equipped with superior features to beautify commercial or residential interiors with a modern-classic style. The four available sizes - 1200 X 2400 mm, 800 X 2400 mm, 1200 X 1200 mm, 800 X 1600 mm are suitable both for cladding and flooring. Simas This simple, minimalist design pays tribute to industrial style without compromising on practicality. Such is the design concept behind the Frame collection by Simas for bathrooms and other functional areas of the home. The collection includes vanity units designed to accommodate Sharp free-standing washbasins, whose range now features nine new pieces, in terms of shape and size - variants of the circle, square, oval and rectangle all with a rounded look - in bold colours. 79
The Art.Ceram Extensive research into colour and texture has prompted The.Artceram to inject a fresh dose of dynamism into one of the areas of the home most influenced by design trends. On the coverings front, the company explores unprecedented textures and brilliant tones across its range of bathroom furnishings designed by Meneghello Paolelli Associati. So velvet, and sand and cement in the form of eco-mortar, combine the practicality of ceramic with the visual impact of colours such as zync yellow, orange cameo, blue sapphire and grey olive. The programme of new washbasins is all about saving space. So they are small, compact, balanced and streamlined, with slim borders, to meet a range of practical requirements as well as saving space. Towel is a fun-chic new washbasin that takes its name from its unusual form, in which a slim layer of ceramic lies on the surface of the top, covering it like a fabric before falling away to the side. Ardeco Sinuous, curved lines or simple, rigorous design. Ardeco presents a series of new bathroom furnishings, each with its own precise styling, to suit every context. Detailing and finishes are among the strengths of the range, from the special treatment of the material used for the tops, to the designer profiles on the unit drawers and doors. New additions to the range include the Wector collection of complements, which stands out for the original design of the handle and channel, designed to create an interplay of solids and voids. The whole collection is available in stained oak for a natural, lacquered or melaminic look, eco-mortar for a more textured finish and painted metal for an industrial feel. 80
Visit (and share!) our Cersaie'e gallery! Scavolini Scavolini's début at Cersaie marks a new departure for the Bologna-based trade fair, with a range of coverings and bathroom furnishings complemented by a series of new products for living-rooms and kitchens. The company's rigorous attention to design and practicality finds perfect expression in the new Laundry Space project, a modular, comprehensive furnishing system for the bathroom. As for finishes, Scavolini has extended its catalogue with 150 new products, including porcelain ceramic and premium marble for its worktops and countertops and the innovative Fenix NTM, which is used for both kitchen unit doors and tops. The highlights also include the Ki programme, by Nendo, the Japanese firm headed by Oki Sato. The concept behind this kitchen and bathroom solution is based on the idea of making the environment disappear into two objects, so as to create space and offer complete design freedom. MaterialiCasa.com & Tile International #MCaroundCersaie 93