An outstanding feature of this year’s Milan Design Week was a striking installation promoting the recycled
ceramic tiles and washbasins of leading Turkish producer, VitrA.
The installation, designed by architecture studio Snøhetta, is a geometrical, architectural structure, covered inside and out with in VitrA’s 100% recycled tiles. Designed as part of the Interni Materiae exhibition, it aims to highlight the durability, sustainability and sensory qualities of ceramic tiles, while showcasing VitrA’s commitment to circular, eco-friendly production methods.
Visitors can enter and walk around the interior of the structure, experiencing the textures of the tiles and the subtly changing light passing into the space through porthole-like openings in the walls. More light enters through a large oculus piercing the structure’s ceiling. This is positioned directly above a shallow, raised pool, containing a number of VitrA’s recycled ceramic washbasins. The nuanced interactions of the tile surfaces with light and water form a core element of the design.
The Snøhetta x VitrA exhibit follows a growing trend in product presentation, in which products are showcased in what is essentially an art installation. The exhibit creates a sensory experience, inviting the visitor to interact, explore and engage with the materials in a carefully designed context.
At Digital Ceramic Custom Tiles, we use advanced tile printing techniques to create colourful tiles which are durable, versatile and attractive. If you are a designer or architect and would like to discuss our products and how they may become a part of your latest project, we would love to hear from you.