Confindustria Ceramica (the Italian Association of Ceramics) and the Italian Trade Agency are proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition. For the first time, the competition expanded its reach to firms worldwide, receiving an exceptional response from the international design community, with entries showcasing outstanding architectural and interior design projects featuring Italian ceramic and porcelain tile from Ceramics of Italy member brands.
As part of the “Building, Dwelling, Thinking” event program at Cersaie 2026, the award ceremony for the Ceramics of Italy International Tile Competition took place on Wednesday, September 23.
Organized annually by the Italian ceramic industry and Cersaie, the Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition recognizes the world’s top projects that showcase the creativity, versatility, and performance of Italian ceramic surfaces across four categories: Commercial, Residential, Outdoor, and Design & New Applications. This year, the international jury evaluated an impressive number of entries, considering functionality, aesthetic appeal, sustainability, and the amount of Italian ceramic materials used as guiding criteria. The projects spanned across Australia, Canada, Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The distinguished international jury was chaired by Steve Clem, Principal at Atlanta-based firm TVS, and included Alfonso Femia, architect, designer, founder and president of Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia; architect Donatella Bollani, who specializes in design, sustainability, and communication, and is the former deputy editor of Domus; and Filippo Manuzzi, Chairman of the Confindustria Ceramica Promotional Activities and Fairs Commission.
“Serving as chair of this year’s jury was an exciting opportunity to see the remarkable range of architectural and design work being created with Italian ceramic and porcelain tile around the world,” Clem said. “The global expansion of the competition brought forward an impressive diversity of projects, demonstrating how ceramic surfaces can serve not just as finishes, but as integral elements of the architecture. The winners and honorable mentions reflect the creativity and innovation that continue to expand the possibilities of ceramic design.”
Winners
Residential: “Spoonbill” in Manalapan, Fla., designed by 610 Interiors and featuring tiles from Leonardo Ceramica and ABK
Overlooking a tranquil protected basin, the residence interprets contemporary luxury through a restrained architectural language and a refined minimalist sensibility. Conceived as gallery-like spaces, the interiors are unified by ivory and soft white ceramic surfaces that create a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor environments. Its continuous dialogue with the waterfront and integration into the surrounding landscape define a living experience centered on well-being, where materials, light, and architecture come together in perfect balance.
Commercial: Terradamari Resort & Spa Marina di Modica–Tapestry by Hilton in Marina di Modica, Sicily, designed by Studio Chiara Caberlon and featuring tiles from Coem, Fioranese, and Ceramica Sant’Agostino
Within the luxury hospitality landscape, Terradamari Resort & Spa interprets relaxation and well-being through architecture deeply integrated into the Sicilian landscape. The resort offers expansive sea views and a design that, through ceramic surfaces, reinterprets traditional motifs and natural textures in a contemporary language. Sustainable materials and local solutions complete a project attentive to the environment, the local area, and people.
Outdoor: Villa Delago in Torri del Benaco, Italy, designed by JM Architecture and featuring ceramic surfaces by Casalgrande Padana
Nestled on one of the natural terraces overlooking Lake Garda, the villa blends seamlessly into the landscape, preserving the site’s century-old olive trees and cypress trees. The single-story pavilion, organized around two generous courtyards, establishes a continuous dialogue with the outdoors through a wraparound portico, defined by a slender white aluminum structure that enhances the porcelain stoneware surfaces. The swimming pool follows the site’s natural topography, while the roof—conceived as a fifth façade and clad in large-format ceramic slabs—emerges as one of the project’s defining architectural features.
Design & New Applications: Icebergs Bar and Kitchen at Sydney Airport T3 in Australia, designed by Lazzarini Pickering Architetti and featuring tiles from Franco Pecchioli Ceramica
The project brings the atmosphere of Bondi Beach’s iconic long lunches to the dynamic setting of Sydney Airport’s Terminal 3, offering travelers an immersive retreat within the constant flow of the terminal. Suspended forms, handcrafted glazed tiles from Tuscany, and carefully orchestrated lighting evoke the colors and reflections of the Pacific. Ceramic surfaces, wrapping counters and monolithic tables, become the defining feature of the space. Sustainability is expressed through durable materials designed for intensive use and an energy-efficient lighting scheme that maximizes the contribution of natural daylight.
Honorable Mentions
Residential: “Private Villa–Bay Hill” in Orlando, Fla., designed by Brooks Design Studio and featuring tile by Ceramiche Keope
Designed to dissolve the boundary between indoors and outdoors, this luxury residence creates a seamless spatial continuity between the home’s living spaces and its outdoor patios. Large-format ceramic surfaces in a soft grey tone, inspired by the understated elegance of concrete, establish a unified material language that enhances the dialogue with the surrounding landscape. Completing the project, glass mosaic-effect ceramic surfaces enrich the pool edge, reinterpreting the refined tradition of Italian mosaic craftsmanship through a contemporary design approach.
Commercial: AC Hotel Savannah Historic District in Savannah, Ga., designed by Design Continuum and featuring tiles from Emilceramica, Florim, Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola, and Italgraniti
Overlooking the riverfront in Savannah’s historic district, the AC Hotel Savannah Historic District interprets its port setting through a clean, contemporary interior design. The dialogue with the surrounding landscape—defined by cargo ships and shipping containers—is expressed through a refined material palette, where ceramic surfaces, warm wood tones, metals, and industrial-inspired materials create an elegant yet welcoming urban atmosphere. References to natural textures and the relationship with the river reflect a design approach rooted in sustainability, recognized with LEED Platinum certification.
Outdoor: “The Atrium House” in Miami, Fla., designed by Space & Forms and featuring products from Ceramiche Caesar
This single-family residence reinterprets one of the most widespread housing typologies in the United States, striking a balance between tradition and contemporary design, openness to the landscape, and domestic privacy. Travertine-effect porcelain stoneware façades interact with timber cladding to create an architectural language that is both understated and refined. The garden and swimming pool become the focal points of outdoor living, seamlessly connected to the interiors through expansive glazed openings and a green courtyard that extends into the heart of the home, enhancing natural daylight, cross ventilation, and overall living comfort.
Design & New Applications (1): “Towerhill House” in Mono, Ontario, designed by Studio Maggs with tiles from Ceramica Vogue, Laminam, Ragno, and Ceramiche Refin
Designed during the height of the pandemic, the residence was born from the clients’ desire to create a retreat of peace, privacy and freedom, in constant dialogue with the outdoors. The generous open-plan spaces are arranged around a central fireplace clad in 3D ceramic elements, while large glazed surfaces and direct connections to the landscape enhance the relationship with natural light throughout the day. A tactile palette of ceramic, wood, marble, steel, and concrete defines warm and solid interiors. Porcelain stoneware surfaces, used for the kitchen worktops, backsplash and tables, ensure strength and durability, in harmony with a contemporary and comfortable design.
Design & New Applications (2): “Staples Table,” designed by London-based studio SMITHS and featuring slabs by Casalgrande Padana
Created as an interactive installation to present the potential of ceramics to London’s architectural community, the “Staples Table” challenges a purely aesthetic view of porcelain stoneware by highlighting its strength and construction versatility. A single white, essential and tactile slab becomes a structural element through a sequence of self-supporting planes—assembled dry and held together solely by their own weight, without adhesives, silicones or mechanical fixings. Designed to be dismantled and reassembled, the system enhances the original slab format, avoiding unnecessary cuts while preserving its integrity and performance.
About Ceramics of Italy
Ceramics of Italy (Confindustria Ceramica) represents Italian manufacturers of ceramic tiles, bricks, refractory materials, sanitaryware, tableware, and ceramics for industrial use. For over 60 years, the association has focused its activities on the needs of its member companies in all national and international contexts. The association’s goal is to connect companies, inform them, and support them.
