Versatile, beautiful, hardwearing and easily cleanable, ceramic tile is a material that comes in all shapes, colors and designs, lending itself well to just about any type of setting, indoors or out, residential or commercial. And, there’s no disputing that Italy is one of the foremost leaders and innovators in tile design and manufacture, which is why so many architects and designers specify Italian tile for a variety of handsome projects. Some of these stellar projects were recently recognized by the Italian Trade Agency and Confindustria Ceramica with the 24th annual Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition. The 2017 honors went to:
Ocean View House (also shown at top) by Bromley Caldari Architects; photography by Mikiko Kikuyama
RESIDENTIAL WINNER
Ocean View House, Fire Island Pines, New York
Firm: Bromley Caldari Architects; tile manufacturer: Emilceramica; distributor/contractor: Artistic Tile
Situated on New York’s popular local getaway spot Fire Island, this beachfront property consists of a main house, dining pavilion, gym, beach/pool cabana and guesthouse, the latter of which Bromley Caldari designed as an independent space that still maintained a close connection to the main residence. The architects blurred the line between indoor and outdoor space and developed an overall warmth by using neutral-toned tiles from Emilceramica’s Fashion line inside the guesthouse and on the adjacent patio.
MediaMath 4 World Trade Center by Jennifer Carpenter Architect; photo by Amy Barkow / Barkow Photo
COMMERCIAL WINNER
MediaMath 4 World Trade Center, New York City
Firm: Jennifer Carpenter Architect; manufacturer: Ceramiche Refin; distributor: High Style Stone and Tile; contractor: Petretti & Associates/Coastal Tile & Marble
Located within 4 World Trade Center, MediaMath houses workspaces and amenities for the client’s 500 employees ranging from lounge areas and an art gallery to a yoga room. Within its striking double-height entrance lobby, large-format slabs from Ceramiche Refin’s Design Industry collection boast an elegant appearance for making the right first impression but also the required low maintenance.
Jerome L. Greene Science Center by Renzo Piano Building Workshop; photography by Laurie E. Donald DBA Bernstein Associates
INSTITUTIONAL WINNER
Jerome L. Green Science Center at Columbia University, New York City
Firm: Renzo Piano Building Workshop; manufacturer: Casalgrande Padana; distributor: ProTile; Contractor: JanTile
The university’s neuroscience institute gained a sparkling new home designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Renzo Piano to meet stringent noise, light and thermal requirements. To create a clean minimalist aesthetic while staying within budget and time constraints, the firm specified 60,000 square feet of Casalgrande Padana tile from the large-format Pietre Etrusche, Unicolore and Basaltina collections.
Case Study House 26 Remodel by Cord Struckmann, Architect; photography by Rob Jordan/Rob J Photos
RESIDENTIAL HONORABLE MENTION
Case Study House 26 Remodel, San Rafael, California
Firm: Cord Struckmann, Architect; manufacturer: Gigacer; distributor: Statements Tile; contractor: Escarlarta Tile
The only historic Case Study house to be built in the San Francisco Bay Area, #26 in San Rafael was a 1960s masterpiece by Beverley David Thorne. In remodeling the residence, Cord Struckmann replaced the carpet and vinyl floors of the common areas with a tile that would contribute to the design integrity of the historic house — Gigacer’s large-format Concrete series.
The Ridge by CallisonRTKL; photography by David Whitcomb/RTKL
COMMERCIAL HONORABLE MENTION
The Ridge, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Firm: CallisonRTKL; manufacturer: Provenza Ceramiche/Ceramiche Refin/Atlas Concorde; distributor: Stone Source; contractor: Lonnie’s Carpet
As part of a major renovation of a resort on Lake Geneva, CallisonRTKL updated various common spaces to exude some modernity. Among them, the lobby and communal seating area sport new bleached wood–look tiles from Provenza Ceramiche’s In Essence line; the lakeside restaurant features another wood-look tile from Atlas Concorde’s ETIC series; and the restaurant bar is anchored by a bold composition made with Ceramiche Refin’s Frame patterned tiles.
Ryerson University ServiceHub by Gow Hastings Architects; photography by Remi Carreiro
INSTITUTIONAL HONORABLE MENTION
Ryerson University ServiceHub, Toronto, Ontario
Firm: Gow Hastings Architects; manufacturer: Casalgrande Padana; distributor: Stone Tile International; contractor: Twin Contracting
Casalgrande’s Architecture collection tiles create a sleek floor that complements the contemporary lines of this 1970s building’s Brutalist architecture. Large-format tiles in two different tones were arranged in alternating diagonals across the space to create a subtle pattern.