Flexible Architecture by Ceramica Sant’Agostino
From April 29 to May 2, these bold and beautiful tile and stone collections – including Sant’ Agostino’s latest line by Philippe Starck – will take over North America’s largest surfacing trade fair, Coverings, the Ultimate Tile + Stone Experience. {C}{C} 1 Sequoie by Coem This earthy porcelain stone for floors and walls comes in five sizes and four veiny colors, including white, grey and black. It’s also LEED-certified and made with 20 per cent recycled material. 2 Virtue by Crossville In this porcelain tile, Crossville captures the subtly veined quality of Carrara, Calacatta and Statuario, replicating the look and finish of these high-end marble products. The tile contains four per cent pre-consumer recycled content, comes in satin and unpolished finishes and can be used on floors, walls, countertops and exterior walls. 3 Cable Floor System by Nuheat Sure, it’s neither tile nor stone, but Nuheat’s latest floor heating system warms up these surfaces, as well as laminate and engineered wood floors. Configurable for angles and curves, a thin cable is installed above the substrate and heats up the top layer. It also works in wet environments, such as showers and steam rooms. 4 Old Wood by Fioranese Imitating the look of petrified wood, this porcelain stoneware is smooth to the touch. It comes in three sizes up to 22.5 by 90 centimeters and five neutral palettes including white ash, cherry brown and walnut moka. 5 Perseo by Marazzi Thanks to digital printing, Marazzi’s highly polished porcelain takes cues from the natural veining found in the facades of historic buildings. Sustainable, with 45 per cent recycled content and zero VOC emissions, Perseo comes in a 0.6-by-0.6-meter format and five luxurious colors. 6 Flexible Architecture by Ceramica Sant ‘Agostino Philippe Starck’s 30-by-30-centimeter tiles come in matte and glossy finishes that can be combined to produce endless configurations. In eight vibrant shades such as green, blue and orange, the collection includes an optional matching grout to create a seamless finish. 7 Pins and Needles exhibited by Avente Tile The Dominican Republic’s Jorge Aguayo draws inspiration from lace and textured fabrics for these hand-painted tiles, the latest additions to the Wholesale Tiles line. They are made of cast cement and marble dust, and come in many colours of Aguayo’s signature palette. 8 Dolceamaro by Viva With its giant flower sketch, this glossy yellow wall covering is one of eight patterns (among the others: hexagons, stripes and waves) that comprise the Dolceamaro collection. In a mostly neutral palette with hits of tangerine and lime green, the ceramic tiles can be mixed and matched for a strikingly vibrant wall or floor. Editor’s note: This article appeared originally in Azure, an award-winning magazine with a focus on contemporary architecture and design. Since its launch in 1985, it has earned a global reputation for excellence. Its international perspective and multidisciplinary coverage – which puts architecture, interiors, products, landscapes and urbanism together in a real-world scenario – make it distinct from any other publication available on newsstands. Follow this link back to see Azure for yourself and follow this link to register for Coverings. Remember, it’s all free!