Explora Park, located on the outskirts of St-Étienne, now boasts a decorative pavilion, its interior adorned with three-dimensional custom ceramic tiles.
The piece, designed by architecture studio New South, is inspired by a traditional Islamic feature – the muqarnas. Often referred to as honeycomb vaulting, the muqarnas consists of niche-like elements arranged in rows and tiers, and is found on dome interiors and vaults in sacred Islamic structures.
The new Muqarnas Pavillion in St-Étienne takes the form of a half dome; its interior covered with deep blue ceramic tiles reproducing the muqarnas feature. The project combines traditional ceramics with digital modelling techniques to create a blend of tradition and innovation.
The tiles were backed with concrete to create interlocking blocks which, according to New South co-founder, Meriem Chabani, are designed to interlock. The blocks were stacked to form a self-supporting structure, and the concrete surface was then covered with turf and greenery, leaving the tiled interior exposed. Chabani explains:
“We wanted the pavilion to feel like a precious stone revealed from the earth – something playful and magical, like a pomegranate split open to expose its hidden world.”
At Digital Ceramics Custom Tiles, we create durable and visually stunning custom ceramic tiles for both public and private spaces. Our advanced digital tile printing techniques can faithfully reproduce the vision of the designer. If you are a designer or architect, call us now and let’s discuss your artistic vision and how our products could become a key feature of your latest project.
Talk to us today and find out how we can transform a project of any scale into an exciting visual experience.
