A key material in urban architecture

The growing importance of outdoor urban spaces is demonstrated by the attention that all stakeholders – from citizens to the public administrations – are devoting to these areas. Urban design solutions can make a vital contribution to the redevelopment of abandoned spaces and serve to create more aesthetically pleasing and liveable cities. This trend can be observed not just in Italy, where a portion of the resources provided by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) will be allocated for this purpose, but all over the world. Due to their intrinsic characteristics and enormous versatility of use, Italian ceramic tiles are able to play an increasingly active role in projects of this kind.

The overall aesthetic quality of a city benefits greatly when different areas and neighbourhoods are integrated as part of a coherent design, making a unified approach essential. This unity of vision is important not only in European capitals, but also in regions of the world that possess the economic means to build entirely new areas of cities, whether horizontally or vertically. The ability to create memorable cityscapes not only improves the overall quality of life of residents, but also serves to attract business travellers and tourists.

Ceramic tiles, especially in their extra-thick version, tick all the boxes required for outdoor use, including resistance to frost, fire, heat and smog, as well as strength, ease of cleaning and outstanding durability. These products also have proven and long-lasting slip-resistance coefficients, a vital characteristic for use in urban environments that is less frequently found among alternative materials.

Another benefit of using ceramic tiles in outdoor urban spaces is their enormous aesthetic versatility. They are able to faithfully reproduce a wide range of stone and wood surfaces in all colours of the spectrum, offering designers an unlimited array of solutions that can easily be incorporated into different design contexts. As a result, the potential provided by Italian ceramic tiles in urban design contexts is becoming increasingly appreciated the world over.

December 2023