The annual Cersaie tile exhibition in Bologna, Italy, is always an expansive showcase of both the latest and most extraordinary offerings from the international tile market. Several trends were omnipresent this year; wood-look tile is still hot, while textured and textile-inspired selections seemed to pop up in seemingly every space on the show floor, which comprised 491 ceramic tile companies. Tiles with three-dimensional effects were also creating a buzz at this year’s edition of Cersaie, in addition to patterns and styles you would traditionally see on wallpaper. Large formats—more like slabs—were also popular on the show floor, as were stylish outdoor options. The possibilities with today’s tile are endless—designs with just about any visual are feasible and they now travel beyond floors and walls.
Read on for editor-selected product highlights from Cersaie 2016.
A. Les Couleurs Suisse AG of Zurich holds the exclusive international rights to Le Corbusier’s unique “Polychromie Architecturale” system and has granted Gigacer Spa the license to use the original Les Couleurs Le Corbusier colors in LCS Ceramics, its porcelain stoneware collection for architectural specification. Le Corbusier's fascination with the balanced colors he found in nature, and his "Architectural Polychromy" based on a structured and artistic palette are still relevant today as shown through the intriguing use of his designs.
B. The 3D Wall Collection from Atlas Concorde comprises rectified monocaliber white body wall tiles. The range of three-dimensional ceramic surfaces breathes new life into walls with geometrical and textured patterns ideal for contemporary environments. The Kite selection, pictured here, features marked lines that come to life depending on the viewer’s position and the angle of light.
C. Eve by Ceramica Bardelli is a collection of handmade ceramic tiles with a matte finish. The line was created in collaboration with Marcel Wanders, an eclectic interior designer and art director of several international design brands. Eve delivers elegance with a touch of rustic to modern locations.
D. With the wood-effect glazed porcelain of Tagina’s Rivamancina it is possible to create and give life to any project, big or small. The collection gives a nod to tradition with an eye focused on the future. Large-format sizing allows end users to cover more surface area and create a striking visual with an aesthetic that includes intricate detail.
E. Trame is one of two collections launched by Lea Ceramiche at Cersaie 2016. The line is offered in both traditional tile sizes and large-format selections from three different styles: Plaster, Matter, and Canvas. Trame allows end users to use three materials in one color for a continuous visual or a combination of options for a more imaginative, unique aesthetic. Through the new collection Lea Ceramiche’s hallmark style is honored, expressed through the use of varied materials, styles, shapes, and sizes.
F. 41zero42 comprises a team of young Italian professionals who focus on the concept of beauty with superior performance while maintaining a balance between research, innovation, trends, and market demands. The merging of technology, aesthetics, performance, practical use, research, innovation, and “made in Italy” is the mission of 41zero42. The Paper41 collection is a new way for 41zero42 to express its vision; in it, shapes, colors, and emotions are brought to life on exceptionally thin tile as an innovative design element.
G. Cotto D’Este’s Wonderwall features the company’s ultra-thin (3mm) ceramic porcelain tile called Kerlite, which is also durable, easy to clean, and lightweight. The collection offers 12 designs with deep textures, printed in high definition. Large slabs measuring approximately 3.3 feet x 9.8 feet are offered in stoneware with fiberglass mesh—thin and light like wallpaper but more durable, resistant to humidity, environmentally friendly, and guaranteed to last over time.
H. Florim has developed a number of different brands to cater to a variety of markets. At Cersaie the company showcased how its products can be used beyond walls and floors to create furniture, closets, bathrooms/bathtubs, and beyond. The Marquinia selection from I Classici de Rex, pictured here, ranges in size from mosaics to large formats (“Magnum” offerings), including an unprecedented 62 7/8 inch x 125 ¾ inch selection.
I. New Age by Monocibec interprets contemporary design to create welcoming environments filled with casual elegance, mixing objects and materials of the past with modernized finishes and details. The aesthetics of the collection are reminiscent of rustic wood floors, painted and worn by time and footsteps. This porcelain stoneware is designed for light commercial use for floors and walls, and is offered in four natural colorations.