TILES FROM AROUND THE WORLD SPANISH


The Spanish tile industry has a rich heritage and, with production at its factories In a celebratory mood, Tile of Spain highli


Tiles are ubiquitous in Spain; the geometric tiles of The Alhambra, the multi-coloured mosaics of Park Guell or the jewel-like ceramics of The Alcazar in Seville. In historical buildings countrywide, it is not uncommon to find tiles as a key decorative element. And even on a smaller, domestic scale, the use of traditional terracotta floor and roof tiles is a distinctive part of Spain’s vernacular architecture.


Today’s Spanish tiles are just as impressive as those of yesteryear and still evoke this rich heritage. If you look at the production of modern tiles there is no shortage of artisanal-style small formats and plenty of colour and pattern to choose from. At the most recent Cevisama exhibition, the annual tile fair in Valencia where the latest collections are launched, many brands paid homage to terracotta with contemporary porcelain versions on display. Ranges available featured tiles saturated with a single colour – some brown or beige, others leaning towards orange – or experimented with geometric designs in earthy hues. Most of these new designs were decorative small formats.


HIGH PEFORMANCE


A great number of Spain’s ceramic brands are based near Castellón, famed for its unique clay and where many of the tile factories were traditionally based, and although they still make highly desirable small formats, they are also widely known for their high-performance technical porcelain and other innovations such as custom ceramic pieces for ventilated facades.


These large-format porcelains have in the last few years become bigger and thinner with slabs typically measuring up to 120cm x 360cm or 160cm x 320cm. Easy to install and with discreet rectified edges, modern surfaces offer a sleek and contemporary grout-free look that are ideal for expansive spaces. Advances in digital printing mean that realistic ceramic reproductions of wood, cement, metal or marble are offered, combining the benefits of the durability of porcelain whilst referencing other raw materials. Dramatic marble effects have been popular in recent years, though wood effects are so evocative of real timber that many specifiers are opting for water-resistant porcelain versions over wooden planks and parquet.


On a creative note, Spanish tiles have never been more innovative with many surfaces achieving a handmade feel of variation in shade and texture. Some brands even create complementary 3D textured formats for walls that are designed to co-ordinate with their porcelain flooring. Teams of designers are employed to develop intriguing concepts and they’ve proved to be particularly adept at interpreting the latest trends. Oxidised metal-look slabs and terrazzo-effect tiles with giant flecks are recent creative ideas that work particularly well in porcelain. At


— 20 —


Fire Rosso Décor by Apavisa has a splattered paint effect that shows off the brightness of new inks for porcelain.


Cevisama we also saw tiles with splattered paint effects using new inks that don’t lose their vibrancy when heated.


SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION


Made by combining fire, clay and water, tiles are a natural material and do not give off harmful emissions. They are durable and resistant to sudden temperature changes, damp and chemical and biological agents, offering a highly sustainable and lengthy life cycle. And with their hardness and scratch resistance, porcelain tiles are an ideal choice for public spaces with high-traffic areas, looking pristine for many years to come. As environmental concerns rise high on the agenda, Spanish manufacturers continue to look closely at their production processes and many are working towards a circular economy.


www.tileofspain.com www.tomorrowstileandstone.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26