Vibrant and polished, rough and matte, flat or three-dimensional: ceramic tiles with a brick-like appearance are making a comeback, reinventing themselves in terms of sizes and finishes to carve out a significant space in modern interiors. The iconic brick format, known for its simplicity, ease of installation, and versatility, is one of the formats that have made history in the world of coverings. Its modular nature, inspired by the traditional silhouette of clay bricks, and its decorative potential, based on the rigorous repetition of a single, identical element, have earned it lasting popularity that has transcended time.
Perhaps it evokes memories of the walls of the Paris Metro or the vintage atmospheres of London and New York’s brick houses, made famous by Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City” and the bathroom settings of Guillermo del Toro’s acclaimed film “The Shape of Water.” Whatever the reason, the evergreen charm of brick-effect tiles seems truly irresistible. This sentiment is also shared by leading ceramic brands, which have populated the pavilions of Cersaie 2023 with a range of new proposals that focus on innovation and creativity, exploring the brick theme through a vast repertoire of material, color, and dimensional variations capable of satisfying all tastes and anticipating future developments.
We have selected ten of these collections to showcase the vitality and energy of this versatile format.
Marca Corona, which has always promoted the brick format within its range of coverings, chooses Bologna for the debut of the most recent additions to “Miniature,” a “work in progress” series capable of interpreting domestic surfaces not only as the absolute protagonist but also as an essential companion for successful combinations with other collections. The new entries, Miniature Fornace and Miniature Cera, respectively evoke the raw appearance of handmade bricks, typical of face bricks, and the tactile pleasantness of satin surfaces enriched with a combination of luminous pigments that reinterpret eight shades, both neutral and vibrant.
Roca Tiles, a Spanish brand, has experimented with the aesthetic potential of the brick by combining contrasting or tonal collections exhibited at the fair. A particularly scenic setup can be found in the bathroom environment, where the elegant formats of the “Navona” series, inspired by Roman travertine, stand out. An audacious curvilinear shower area covered with rectangular “Bar Tile” strips in the intense Lisbon red vermilion adds an extra touch of drama. With five colors and an extremely luminous glossy finish filled with reflections, the series is based on the repetition of the single brick, allowing designers to create dynamic accent walls. Among the many novelties on display at Cersaie 2023, we could also appreciate the performance of the technical porcelain stoneware “Balance,” characterized by durable finishes, particularly suitable for high-traffic spaces, offered by Roca through a coordinated color mood board alternating between decorative “Suite Balance” slabs, which recall the texture of a dense fabric, and the brick formats of the “Flow” collection: a series designed to personalize environments through elegant gradient colors, emphasized by the sparkling glazed clay effect finish.
Designed to summarize the properties of brilliance, color, and materiality of ceramics within a single concept, “Workshop” is the artisanal brick launched by Panaria, a versatile design tool that serves interior design thanks to exceptional compositional freedom and the versatility of the small format. Its appearance, which recalls the imperfections of handmade work, and the harmony of the nine tones in the palette, consisting of neutral shades and more intense nuances perfectly integrated with each other, make it a decorative and engaging cladding capable of dialoguing with all the porcelain stoneware floors in the Panaria range.
Ceramica Bardelli has introduced “Tubes,” a reinterpretation of the brick format with three-dimensional incisions, transferring the pattern of ribbing onto ceramics through a relief decoration with a wavy profile. Available in 3D and flat versions in the 6×25 cm format, the “Tubes” collection is produced in both glossy and satin finishes, designed to convey a decidedly contemporary appeal with a refined color range.
Sōdai has launched “Rumors,” a multifaceted collection that doesn’t limit itself to a single type of ceramic product. Instead, it combines a diverse mix of visual, tactile, and chromatic inspirations that together create a powerful tool for creativity and expression. The “Roots” series fully embraces the brick format, the result of original processing that blends the past, present, and future. Notable for its surface irregularities and spontaneous variations in the six earthy shades, this module appears solid yet exclusive and enticing due to its rugged and fragmented aesthetics, perfect for enhancing the material’s corporeality and evoking emotions.
In summary, the brick is experiencing a renaissance in terms of design and innovation, proving that its charm is more irresistible than ever. These ten collections demonstrate that the brick can be reinvented in extraordinary ways, adding new dimensions and finishes that span from contemporary to traditional.
