Delightful dots and diamonds are among some of the motifs one encounters in this sophisticated cement-tile collection from Bisazza. While the Italian company may be best known for its glass mosaics, its foray into cement tiles is proving successful thanks to smart collaborations, such as this one with French architect and designer India Mahdavi.
The fourth “Cementile” edition, Collezione Mahdavi offers that rustic feel associated with cement, but geometric patterns and a fresh palette which create a decidedly playful and modern — or, more like, retro-pop — look. For instance, designers can combine a simple tile sporting a single semicircle on its surface with the same graphic or solid colors to form an optical polka dot and pill-shape composition.
Other graphics include double semicircles, a lemon shape, raindrops with a faceted outline, a domino-evoking diamond pattern, angular stripes and corners, and other polygon motifs.
Each tile is made by hand, pretreated with a protective water and oil repellant, finished with a wax coating, and offered in two formats: square (7¾ inches) or hexagonal (7¾ by nine inches). The collection will be available in 2016.