September is always an important month in the design calendar but not all the action happens in London. Attention will also be on the Italian city of Bologna as it plays host to Cersaie, the international ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings exhibition celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Bigger than 2022, the five-day trade fair will have over 625 exhibitors spread across 15 halls, with 40 per cent of those taking part coming from abroad – evidence of its importance within the global industry for interior designers, architects, manufacturers and anyone interested in the latest innovations in ceramic design. The exhibition is also a showcase for products that are Made in Italy, a world-renowned hallmark of quality and craftsmanship.
As well as exhibitors revealing the stylistic features of their latest collections and sharing know-how on new materials, they will also arrange their products holistically to offer design solutions that inspire visitors. Plus, to mark this 40th edition, Cersaie will look back over the last four decades with Route 40, a fascinating circuit through the space that has been curated by engineer Davide Vercelli and designed by esteemed architect Dario Curatolo.
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Starting from the quadriportico, Route 40 will wind its way through the halls with displays to mark each decade, focusing on the major changes that have taken place in sectors such as design and technology, and forward-thinking companies that have made history. Each area will highlight key personalities, with videos featuring interesting product applications and historical context, accompanied by music from the period.
Reminding visitors that Cersaie is a long-established trade fair with a reputation for avant-garde products and pioneering trends, the route will also nod to the many brilliantly fun ways that designs have been exhibited in the past – from the 1980s fashion show that featured clothes made from tiles, to the clever use of ceramics in the 'Cer Sea' beach-style bathing concept in 2014 and, a year later, the visionary 'Cer-Stile' train, which explored Italian landscapes through surreal scenes created with pieces provided by companies such as Molteni, Duravit Italia and Vitra. Of course, it will look to the future too, with an eye on new developments and applications of ceramic products.
The Building Dwelling Thinking cultural programme will be back, with leading names in the world of contemporary architecture discussing their most exciting projects and the thinking behind their designs.
Past keynote lectures have been given by Renzo Piano, Norman Foster and Shigeru Ban. This year, Chinese architect Xu Tiantian, founder of the Beijing-based design and architecture studio DnA, will lead the programme, with a conference on 27 September at 11am at the Palazzo dei Congressi di BolognaFiere.
Another popular returning event is Cersaie Designs Your Home, where experts from leading Italian design magazines will offer visitors free advice on how to achieve their bathroom of dreams – whether that's practical tips for storage in small spaces or unusual tile combinations.
As part of a focus on future generations and professional training, a new feature of the exhibition this year involves six young tile layers, aged between 17 and 23, who will take part in a challenge to create an artefact using tiles of various sizes.
The mecca of all ceramic tile and bathroom furnishing trade fairs, this is the place to discover the newest colours, textures and finishes, and the companies really pushing the boundaries in design.
Cersaie takes place 25-29 September. Find out more and download your free entrance ticket at cersaie.it
