_{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...