From home to the world: the thousand lives of ceramics

Ceramics in the nautical sector

Resistant to foot traffic, UV rays, chlorine, saltiness, mold and easy to sanitize, ceramic is well suited to embellish ships and yachts.

We find the ceramic surfaces of Lea Ceramiche in the Costa Classica, one of the most representative ships in the Costa Crociere fleet, designed by Studio Cervi&Rossi. The architects chose full-body porcelain stoneware from the Tecnoquartz collection with an elegant quartzite effect to cover the exteriors of the ship, from the wellness and relaxation area to the pool area.

Ceramics on the A1 motorway

Very thin, flexible and ultra-resistant, ceramic is the protagonist of some of the most impressive, prestigious and challenging infrastructure projects in Europe. An example is the Galleria di Base, the most important and longest tunnel of the Variante di Valico, designed by Enrico Dal Negro, Alfredo Cullaciati and Arduino Mastropietro.

Over 66 kilometers of the A1 Apennine section, covered for 8.6 kilometers with large ultra-thin Kerlite slabs by Cotto D'Este. To cover the curved walls of the tunnel, majestic (up to one by three meters) and ultra-thin (just 3.5 millimeters thick) white non-reflecting ceramic slabs were used, glued with Mapei adhesives to a height of 4 meters starting from the sidewalk of the carriageway on both concrete walls of each tunnel, one in each direction.

Ceramics take center stage in interiors

Ceramic is the new protagonist of interior design. A trend intercepted by Ceramica del Conca, which presents Del Conca House, a sub-brand of ceramic surfaces applied to new contexts and intended uses, such as benches, lamps, chairs, tables, kitchens, outdoor furniture.

A custom made collection to explore new design paths and satisfy the requests of even the most demanding customers. Furnishing accessories to coordinate with ceramic walls and floors, to create a made-to-measure project, in continuity between in&out.

The armored door that looks like marble

Ceramic also covers the entrance doors. Like the Synua armored pivot door by Oikos, customized with Statuario Altissimo slabs by Laminam, with an elegant white marble effect that enriches by an interweaving of silver-coloured veins.

A choice that transforms the door from a technical and functional element into a piece of furniture, in harmony with the style of the house.

The ceramic total look in the kitchen

From the floor to the worktop, from the boiserie to the sink, from the backsplash to the doors, ceramics cover the kitchen in a sophisticated and harmonious total look.

Thanks to the maxi sizes, the slabs appear as a continuous surface, without interruptions, which runs horizontally and vertically, in length and in height, customizable in terms of finishes, shades and textures, as in the settings of Atlas Plan, the Atlas Concorde brand specializing in large porcelain stoneware slabs for kitchen countertops and furnishings.

The invisible hob

It's there but you can't see it. It is  Cooking Surface Prime by Abk Group, the induction hob integrated into the kitchen top. A multitasking top where you can carry out all the activities, from processing ingredients to cooking.

The slabs, guaranteed for 25 years, can be applied in both domestic and professional environments, resist stains, scratches, blades and this allows you to cut and prepare food directly on the surface.

The top, waterproof and non-porous, is hygienic and resistant, does not fear high and low temperatures, nor detergents and chemical agents, and is also suitable for outdoor kitchens.

The bathroom sink moves into the kitchen

Easy to sanitize and resistant to high temperatures, ceramic is an original alternative to stainless steel in the kitchen. Thus Flaminia presents Acquafood, the ceramic sink for the kitchen designed by Giulio Cappellini and Roberto Palomba, a double bowl in a white or charcoal finish, with a built-in teak top, reminiscent of a bathroom sink. A novelty that could dictate a new trend.

Porcelain stoneware for outdoor furnishings

Unalterable to UV rays, resistant to bad weather and sudden changes in temperature, ceramic is a surface that lends itself well to life en plein air. We find it as the top of the garden tables by Myyour, made with porcelain stoneware tops by Casalgrande Padana, both in the marble effect version and in the variant, very summery, in white and blue.

Still in the outdoor area, Modulnova chooses the ceramic for the Skill gres outdoor kitchen, designed by Carlo Presotto and Andrea Bassanello; as the name suggests, Skill gres can be customized in many materials including Dark Depth stoneware with a lime effect, in the photo.

The mini-tile for the bathroom cabinet

From cladding, ceramic is transformed into a real piece of furniture, a sculptural object, a three-dimensional surface to be touched and admired.

One example is Loom, the new Italgraniti brand of bathroom elements designed by Andrea Parisio and Giuseppe Pezzano.

The ceramic becomes a low wall mosaic, six millimeters thick, which covers and enhances the storage unit under the sink. The effect is surprising.

Ceramics interact with home automation

Ceramic becomes intelligent. Iris Ceramica Group presents Hypertouch, the smart surface that connects to home automation.

Thanks to an integrated system of home automation sensors, just touch the pane to turn the lighting, temperature control, audio-video and window and door systems on and off.

A patented solution applicable to all the proposals of the group, with thickness up to 12 millimeters, also available as an eco-active surface Active Surfaces with antibacterial, antiviral, anti-pollution, anti-odor and self-cleaning properties.