Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition 2024 Winners

(December 2024) – The award ceremony for the inaugural edition of the Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition was held at Cersaie 2024, in the Auditorium of The Square at the BolognaFiere Service Centre, during a conference on the future of the world of design attended by the competition jurors, moderated by Aldo Colonetti.

The Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition is the international architectural award organised by the Italian ceramic industry and Cersaie to honour the best architectural projects carried out using Italian ceramic tiles. It combines two existing Italian ceramic competitions, the Design Competition for the North American market, which has run for over thirty years, and Ceramics and Design, the Italian competition which has been held for eleven years. The new competition will focus on Europe and North America in alternating years, starting with Europe in 2024 and North America in 2025.

The international jury has assessed the more than 90 submitted projects according to their creativity, functionality, aesthetic appeal, sustainability and their use of ceramic tiles. The jury is chaired by Louisa Hutton (architect and founder of the Berlin-based practice Sauerbruch Hutton) and consists of Domitilla Dardi (historian and design curator), Luca Molinari (architect and Professor of Architectural Theory and Design at the University of Campania), Steve Clem (architect at the Atlanta-based practice TVS) and Emilio Mussini (Chairman of the Promotional Activities and Trade Fairs Commission of Confindustria Ceramica).

The winner of the Residential category is the “Barn Regeneration” project in Pompiano (BS) by studio Panificio Laboratorio Artigianale di Architettura Andrea Benedetti, using tiles from Florim. This private residence is the result of an elegant conversion project with a change of use from agricultural to residential. The porcelain tiles were able to establish a natural dialogue between past and present, which coexist in perfect harmony. Ceramic tiles were used for both indoor and outdoor flooring, the stairs, the TV cabinet, the bathrooms and the bedrooms, while large slabs were used for the sink top and the sides of the kitchen island.

Barn Regeneration, Pompiano (BS), 2023. Photo: Michela Melotti.

The award for the Non-Residential category goes to the “Spiga 26” project in Milan by Studio Alessandro Scandurra SSA, which involved the use of tiles from Cotto d’Este. This sensitive, environmentally friendly renovation project adopts a conservative approach and uses locally sourced materials, such as tiles from the Emilia-Romagna region. This has significantly reduced energy consumption, thereby meeting the highest sustainability standards. The three-dimensional surface covering is a kind of additional, non-structural layer akin to a curtain, echoing the details of the original architecture on the lower level. This juxtaposition of new and old provides the building with a kind of “tailor-made suit” that seamlessly integrates into the surrounding urban context.

Commercial/office building Spiga 26, Milan, 2022. Photo: Filippo Romano.

The winner of the Design and new applications category is “Metropolitan Waves”, a project carried out by Alepreda Architecture in Chiari (BS) using tiles from Vogue. Metropolitan Waves is a series of four elements based on modular three-dimensional blue tiles. Named after the changing skyline of metropolitan cities, these mini skyscrapers can be used as pedestals, free-standing tables or parts of more complex compositions.

Metropolitan Waves, 2024. Photo: Nicola Brasetti.

The jury has also decided to award 4 Honourable Mentions.

The honourable mention in the Residential category goes to Studio AAVV by Gianluca Costanzo for the “Casa RP” project in Milan, which used products from a number of companies, including Francesco De Maio, ABK, Appiani, Vogue, Italgraniti, Etruria design and Ceramica Flaminia. This private home renovation makes extensive use of Italian ceramic tiles for both the floor and wall coverings, transforming the space into something akin to an art gallery, with elegant colour combinations that play with shapes and colours. The traditional sizes pay tribute to the rich history of Italian ceramics, while looking to the future through technological research and progress. Unique three-dimensional pieces stand side by side with iconic tiles such as those designed by Gio Ponti, while the sanitary fixtures are also exclusively Italian made.

Private residence R.P., Milan, 2023.

The first honourable mention in the Non-Residential category goes to the DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, a project carried out by Andrea Maffei Architects using tiles from Casalgrande Padana, Florim and Laminam. The restaurant is located on the first floor of the Allianz Tower designed by Arata Isozaki and Andrea Maffei within the Citylife complex. The project makes extensive use of large ceramic slabs. Guests are welcomed by an elegant natural stone-inspired corridor clad with the same piasentina stone-effect slabs used for the flooring throughout the restaurant and for the wall coverings in the dining room and bathrooms. Large slabs are also used for the welcoming bar area and counter and for the splashback in the drinks preparation area. The continuous sequence of large surfaces, interrupted occasionally by soft veins, helps to create a smooth, sinuous skin-like effect and fits in perfectly with the other design materials used throughout the restaurant.

DaV Restaurant, Allianz Tower, Milan. Ph.: Andrea Martiradonna.

The second honourable mention in the same category goes to the Olympic project carried out in San Giovanni di Fassa (TN) by studio NOA der Architekten Stefan Rier und Lukas Rungger using products from the companies Ragno and Progetto Baucer. This mimetic and sustainable intervention model provides guests with an exciting, immersive experience amid the stunning scenery of the Dolomites. The tiles are present in the guest rooms, bathrooms, private suite spa and suspended sauna. The colours vary greatly, creating combinations that further enhance the beauty of the surrounding landscape. The extreme versatility of the ceramic tiles in terms of colours, shapes and sizes makes them ideal for this project. In addition, their outstanding chemical resistance, durability, hygiene and non-slip properties make them particularly suitable for wellness areas, where water is always present.

Olympic Spa Hotel, San Giovanni di Fassa (TN). Ph.: Alex Filz.

The honourable mention in the Design and new applications category goes to the Community Centre project in Laubach (Germany) carried out by ankestern interior e kaischulzarchitektur with tiles from Ergon (Emilgroup). Ceramic tiles with distinctive colours, textures and patterns were chosen for the renovation of the community centre in this town in Germany. Durability was a key factor in the choice of ceramic tile for this high-traffic project, serving as a distinctive element that enhances the aesthetics of the entire space.

Community Center Laubach (D), 2023. Ph.: Wolfgang Zlodej.

The 2025 competition is open to North American architects (U.S., Canada, Mexico) with projects built worldwide between January 1, 2020 – September 30, 2024.
To submit projects > tilecompetition.com