We all love a well-plumped cushion and a stylish accessory, but it’s the designs you will see at Cersaie, the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings, that have the real power to transform a home. They are the floors you will walk on, the walls and surfaces you’ll want to run your hands over, and the furnishings and fittings that make a bathroom not only functional but covetable.
This year, for Cersaie’s 42nd edition, the theme is architectural design, attracting the attention of architects, designers, contractors and trade professionals who recognise the importance of the innovative and high-performance materials and products on display.
If you’re crazy about ceramics, this is the design event for you. And, in a move that panders to our own obsession when it comes to materials, this year ‘I Portici di Cersaie’, a walkway that leads like a spine through the exhibition centre, will be transformed into a photo gallery by architect Dario Curatolo. Tracing a narrative from raw material (clay) to the many astounding architectural elements on display at Cersaie, it focuses in on textures, finishes and patination with an artistic attention to detail.
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Other highlights include the return of Tiling Town. This area functions as a training hub, with installation techniques displayed by masters in their fields. Be sure to marvel at Cersaie World Tiling Lab, where young tile layers from Italy, Switzerland, Denmark and Brazil will showcase their skills in creating four ceramic-tiled settings: a bathroom with a shower niche, an outdoor area, a living space with a staircase and an exterior façade complete with French windows.
Need a moment to digest what you’ve seen? The Square (inspired by Bologna’s famous piazza) is the spot for relaxation, meetings and learning. Catch words of wisdom from guest speakers such as Madrid-born architect Ángela García de Paredes, browse the bookshop or check out Cersaie’s own live radio station. Inspiration is guaranteed.
Cersaie is held at the Bologna Exhibition Centre, 22-26 September. Click to secure your free ticket now
