_{ABOVE: The Color collection (shown here in Mud) by Ceramica Fioranese and Alessandro Pasinelli Studio plays with geometry and glossy-matte contrast.}

Visitors returning to Bologna for Cersaie this past September may have noticed that the city looked different than in previous years. With many of the streets closed for construction, the transportation network was riddled with gridlock, bursting at the seams with over 95,000 attendees to the annual tile fair. The temporary traffic will be well worth the payoff: A major project is underway to build two new tram lines, and once they are completed in 2026, one of them will allow for easy access to the airport. In fact, the city is currently leading the transition to zero-emissions public transportation in Europe with the largest fleet of electric buses in Italy, and it plans to introduce electric trolleys down the line.

When you consider that the region of Emilia-Romagna is home to the country’s thriving ceramics industry, a world leader in sustainability, it all starts to make sense. Though it was founded by the Etruscans in 534 BCE, Bologna isn’t resting on its laurels — and neither is the tile industry, which dates back to Roman times. The Italian ceramics association, Confindustria Ceramica, consistently pushes manufacturers to reduce whole-life carbon while advocating for policy changes to implement higher sustainability standards across the larger flooring sector.

And when it comes to design? Tile companies also continue
to reinvent themselves. But while slabs have grown increasingly
thin and digital printing even more realistic, ultra-trendy styles
were fewer and further between this year. Instead, many manufacturers opted to modernize timeless classics like graphic checkerboard patterns and intricate wood inlays. After all, trends may come and go, so to take advantage of the unparalleled durability of ceramics (and thwart the endless cycle of wasteful renovations), they need to be designed with longevity in mind.

Checkmate

From subtle stone-look effects to bolder black-and-white motifs, checkerboard patterns were (literally) all over the show floor.

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1 DANDY by 41zero42

With a palette of black, white and green in distressed marble-inspired finishes, 41zero42 sought to evoke the time-worn character of the exclusive Almack’s social clubs in London. A variety of geometric patterns enables endless combinations.

2 Invictus Cross by Ceramica Sant’Agostino

Taking the travertine trend in a new direction at Cersaie 2024, this collection by Ceramica Sant’Agostino (shown here in Mix Warm) alternates the tones of the stone-look surface to create an understated grid pattern.

3 Kimono by Decoratori Bassanesi

Designer Federica Biasi conceived Kimono to highlight the construction of traditional Japanese garments, mirroring the proportions and textures of obi belts. The collection (featured here with contrasting grout) revives colours and techniques from Decoratori Bassanesi’s archives, including double firing and shiny enamel glazes.

Feeling the Blues

Warm tones have had their time in the sun. Shifting the trend, many of this year’s textural tile launches embraced cooler hues.

1 Alabastri by Casalgrande Padana

Many manufacturers moved beyond realism to bring new life to stone-look slabs. This take updates sought-after alabaster in an ethereal powder blue hue that complements its dramatic veining.

2 Poetry Net by ABK

Modelled after fabric fibres like hemp and cotton, this collection by Paola Navone recalls a pair of rain-soaked jeans when rendered in blue. The pattern varies in saturation across each 60-by-120-centimetre tile to create captivating shading effects.

3 Bioterre by Del Conca

Shown here in Stratum Artico, the Bioterre collection references rammed earth construction. Horizontal striations in cool pastel tones mimic the layers of raw clay utilized in the Pisé technique.

Porcelain Parquet

An alternative to the planks that have dominated in the past, these collections offered decorative riffs on the wood-look style.

1 V Stone by Versace

Palazzo Versace, the brand’s Milan design atelier, served as the starting point for this porcelain collection, which balances luxurious stone with the warmth of wood. The four patterns — Frame, Cross, Greca Border and Relief — feel at once modern and classic.

2 Ton by Sodai

Taking cues from ballrooms and gentlemen’s clubs, Sodai based this collection on inlaid oak flooring. The geometric pattern, which combines three different shades to create a 3D illusion, pairs perfectly with the retro, burlwood-inspired panels from the same series.

3 Tabula by Gardenia Orchidea

With all the decorative charm of antique wood-working, Tabula reflects a bygone era. Intricate variations in grain add to the realistic feel, while the P.TECH finish allows for ease of cleaning and slip resistance, for use in commercial and public spaces.