Product Report

Cersaie 2016

This year, there was a small seed of expression by several companies which showcased the technological directions being pursued. These brave conductors expressed themselves with the instruments of large textured and very stunning surfaces within the ranges of 2800x1200x6.5mm. This forward-thinking technology is also seen being paired with cold-glaze technology where the porcelain is fired at only 80 degrees compared to standard glazes starting at 800-1,200 – degrees dependent upon colour.

There was also aspiration toward the ‘perfectly imperfect’ texture. Tactility became a relieving juxtaposition to the smooth unsympathetic surfaces we are exposed to on a daily basis. The products presented this year provided a rich, sensory experience of both tactility and playful aesthetic contrasts. The shift from cold surfaces to warm tactile finishes revealed surfaces more like linen than ceramic. Paired together with lighter and thinner technologies, this concept points the materiality of ceramic surfaces toward a new trajectory with limitless opportunity for experimentation. To this end, one of the show-stoppers at this year’s Cersaie fair was the Dream Series by Italian design house Fondovalle.

Dream is inspired by the natural weft of linen: one of the world’s most ancient fabrics still widely used in interior design for its simple yet refined look. A light but outlined weave crosses a surface available in three pastel shades that evoke the colours of the sky, earth and green, in a wide range of formats.

Like a painting, uncontaminated forests decorate the wall, echoing the enjoyment of our vital relationship with nature. Certainly one of the best innovations to come out of this year’s offering, beautifully combing technology with ancient materiality.