With more than 800 exhibitors, Cersaie (chur-SIGH) is a world-renowned international event featuring the newest and best in ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings. Last month, Modern in Denver joined national publications including Architectural Record, Elle Decor, Azure, and Interior Design Magazine for a firsthand look at the festivities.
Over the course of three jam-packed days, we explored all the newest innovations in Italian ceramic tile. One popular example: Cutting-edge technology now allows for tile that can not only be made to look like wood, concrete, or fabric, but that also simulates the texture of each material.
Blu Ponti by Ceramica Francesco De Maio
Also attracting attention were tiles with high-resolution graphics of floral images (not unlike wallpaper). There were even some “hand-painted”-inspired tiles, like “Blu Ponti” by Ceramica Francesco De Maio — a series that reproduces 12 patterned tiles designed by famed architect Gio Ponti.
EVE by Ceramica Bardelli. Designed by Marcel Wanders
Opening night saw a special party and press conference at Ducal Palace in the small village of Sassuolo, 45 minutes from Bologna. (Fun historical fact: the palace dates to 1475!) The following day was highlighted by a keynote presentation from Pritzker Prize-winning architect Norman Foster, who, at 81 years old, is still an important voice in the world of design. His talk was framed around buildings that influenced his career, as well as insight into his own current projects. Keep an eye out for the new circular glass building that will soon be Apple’s new corporate headquarters.
Ducal Palace in Sassuolo
The final day of Cersaie included a behind-the-scenes tour of the of the Naxos tile factory in Modena. Here, the press corps was given exclusive access to the process of creating breathtaking porcelain tiles from dry powder. It’s simply amazing to see how the next generation of tile is produced, and to consider all the ways this will impact modern design.
Naxos tile factory in Modena
Architect Norman Foster
Want more information on Cersaie? Here’s the link.
To see our coverage of the best of NeoCon 2016, go here.
And to learn about 10 emerging kitchen trends from this year’s Salone del Mobile and Eurocucina, be here now.
