09 September 2010

A Tile of Spain fall preview


The Spanish Tile Manufacturer's Association is a private organization whose goal is to promote Spanish tile manufacturers worldwide Under the Tile of Spain banner. In Spanish, they are the Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Azulejos y Pavimentos Cerámicos, and they go by the acronym ASCER. Ascer represents more than 200 Spanish tile manufacturers, most of whom are located in the province of Castellón. From Castellón, Tile of Spain brings to the world some truly amazing materials.

Cersaie, a world tile showcase, takes place in Bologna in a few weeks. Tile of Spain sent me some preview images of new products that will make their debut at the show.

From Azulejos Plaza, here's Tuscany, a porcelain tile produced using a combination of different reliefs and ink jet printing technology. The resulting look is classified as Rappolano, created from a selection of the finest rappolano stones available. This gives great variation from one piece to another, approximately 80-100 different faces. The series is available in four colors: Bone, Copper, Terra and Gold and is available in 18” x 18", 12” x 24 " with 2” x 2" mosaics.


From Ceramicas Aparici comes Novocemento and Novocemento SLIM to meet minimalist design needs. This rectified porcelain tile is double-fired for ultimate durability and is available in both standard thickness and Aparici’s slim tile option, SLIM4. Novocemento is available in formats 45x90, 22.5x90 and 30x60 and in  Marfil, Gris, Brown and Negro.



From Land Porcelanico comes Azulcascais. Azulcascais takes its name and inspiration from a natural stone typically found in Portugal. This full-body, technical porcelain tile, is available in formats 45x90, 22.5x90, 30x60 and in ivory, moss and graphite.


From the Navarti Group comes a new HD (high definition) collection called Riverstone. The Riverstone series uses inkjet digital technology combined with pressing to perfectly reproduce the look of natural river stones.


Finally, from TAU Ceramica comes the Breccia collection. As the name would suggest, Brecchia gets its name from Breccia Aurora stone. The crystalline effect of its highly polished surface reveals veins, unique shapes and chromatic variations. This is a porcelain tile for the most demanding users, yet for whom elegance is a priority. Breccia is available in 44x44 and 60x60 formats for floor tiles, plus 32x90 for wall tiles.


If you'd like more information about these or any of the more than 200 Spanish Tile Manufacturers represented by Tile of Spain, please browse their website.

These materials are even more stunning in person than they appear here. If you're fortunate enough to be at Cersaie laster this month please let me know what you see at the show. I'll be there next year if it's the last thing I do.

11 comments:

  1. Wow. These are some fascinating tiles. I have probably written fifty blogs on tile, and I never grow weary of the subject, simply because someone is always coming up with a new idea to blow one's mind. Ceramics and glass are the other interests I would have liked to have pursued, had I not gotten into woodworking. But tile... man you can do so damned much with that medium!

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  2. I don't know what it is, but I'll never tire of the stuff. These new micro thin field tiles coming out of Italya nd Spain are really blowing my mind --they're a real game-changer.

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  3. I'm loving that hi-tech hobbit-hole bath from Land Porcelanico. Right angles are just so square...

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  4. Hobbit hole is the perfect description.

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  5. From Spain you say and technology printed? They are beautiful! Wish here in Canada that tile flooring throughout a home was more the norm.
    -Brenda-

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  6. Thanks to you and Tiles of Spain for the Cersaie preview. The trend for larger formats and thinner tile seems to have no end and understandably so. Savings in production and installation is something we all want.

    The trend to emulate stone has been a long one and I must say the Breccia Aurora is the zenith of anything I've ever seen. Wish I could see it at Cesarie.

    Thanks again for the sneak peek!

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  7. Do you do anything with these Spanish brands Bill?

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  8. Re your comment Paul, would love to but I have a crazy question ... would its weight not constitute reinforcement of a structure? ie: Residential home, 2nd storey, tile verses installation of hardwood flooring. (Hope that makes sense.) -Brenda-

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  9. Not usually, although you do have to set down a layer of cement board before you can set tile.

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  10. Thanks Paul. Tile is something you don't see too much up here unless of course it is in limited amounts or Commercial spaces. -Brenda-

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