2015.10.04

I was invited to visit CERSAIE 2015, the world's largest trade fair for ceramic tiles and bathroom supplies, held in Bologna, Italy, so I went to visit it.

You can't look around the booths in a very large area, but the trends are very easy to understand because the display trends are almost complete. In about two years, Japan may have become this trend. There were three main trends.

XNUMX Flooring style

The most noticeable are the wooden tiles. Among them, the ones that express a vintage feeling put the strength of each company. I was particular about the touch.

XNUMX Cement style

Cement (mortar) tiles were always on display alongside the wood-based tiles. This is again a product with a vintage feel.

XNUMX Rusty

Not only flooring cement, but also tiles expressing the weathered texture with all kinds of stones, bricks and textiles were seen.

■ Italy and ceramic tiles

In recent years, digital printing technology (inkjet) has revolutionized the world of ceramic tiles, making it possible to easily reproduce any pattern realistically. At present, production in China, Brazil, India, etc. is also flourishing, but why is Italy the most advanced?

The opening celebration of Cersaie took place in the historic palace hall in Sassuolo (about an hour's drive from Bologna), where the tile factories are densely packed, with spectacular frescoes painted on the entire ceiling. I fell to my house.

(The venue was Palazzo ducale. The huge sculptures that welcome him look like a statue of Niou.)

(The salon where the celebration was held is filled with frescoes.)

(A stunning fresco on the ceiling. You can tell from the horizontal molding that the top is not real?)

Japanese fusuma paintings are similar in that they make up a fictional space, but fresco paintings are realistic and fusuma paintings are abstract.
Also, for example, the plaster on the wall is only white, flat and artistic in Japan.
Italy, on the other hand, invented marble-like stucco (Venetian stucco) with marble powder instead of expensive marble. (This is also a time-consuming and particular job.)
This sensibility has something to do with passionate search for ceramic tiles with super realistic textures.
Of course, the need to pursue and differentiate technology in the face of intense competition from other regions with lower workforces may also be the background.
However, because of this sensitivity, I think Italy will continue to be at the forefront of ceramic tiles.
As an aside, there are realistic wood sheets in Japan, but we are only trying to reproduce the texture of the wood. If you are in Italy, you will have to go a few more steps, not only the realism of the material, but also the reproduction of the texture of the paint, which has a vintage feel and reduced wear. No matter how long you wait, you wo n’t get any taste.

■ Super large format tile

In addition to the trends mentioned above, one of the most prominent technical aspects of Italy in recent years is the size of tiles.
Several companies have commercialized large large tiles of 3.2mx1.6m.
With this size, the kitchen counter can be made like a single rock.
In addition, if it is a tile, soft stones that are not suitable for counters can also be used.
Ultra-large format tiles have the potential to open new markets that have never been seen before.

(Huge large format tile. The thickness is as thin as 6mm, but the back is reinforced with resin.)

I immediately observed and studied the details of the edges of the large format tiles and the details of the clasps to see if they could be used in an ongoing project.
Even a full-body tile (a tile that is made of the same material as the surface up to the inside and has a little uncomfortable cross section) is difficult.
Even if it is fastened, the texture of the slightly visible edges will be different.
I realized once more that the solid texture of natural stone is 1 mm at the end.

(Counter example. The texture of the edge part is inferior to the tile surface.
　I want the tile patterns to be continuous at least on the top and sides. )

However, I found a product with a pattern that is continuous inside!
ABC Shokai is an agency in Japan for FMG.

(Solid super large marble tile with a continuous pattern to the inside.)

This visit was a valuable experience that allowed me to gain insight into ceramic tiles.