International correspondent, Joe Simpson reports on this year’s show

CEVISAMA 2020: DESIGN POSSIBILITIES EXPANDED

The 38th edition of Cevisama in Spain saw fresh designs that led to a striking variety of possibilities for walls and floors with bold and vibrant colours, heavy textures, and classic prints on ornamental shapes. International correspondent Joe Simpson reports.

Several new initiatives were introduced this year, such as a Design Hall dedicated to product innovations for architectural and interior design projects. This proved to be an unusually well-curated space, offering a snapshot of current trends away from the commercial melee of the main exhibition halls.

Here the focus was on two main areas: boldly coloured small format tiles, many with 3D or structured surfaces: and XXL format tiles for worktop, façade, and furniture applications. It proved to be a great space to see both the more avant-garde propositions from the major manufacturers, and beautiful designs from niche producers. 34

Of course, most trade visitors attend Cevisama to see – and buy – the latest tile designs, particularly those from the leading Spanish producers, most of whom continue to support the event.

This year the overall stand quality was exceptionally high, with companies such as Aparici, Apavisa, Arcana, Ceracasa, Gayafores, Keraben, Pamesa, Rocersa, and Vives leading the way. Some of the smaller brands also impressed, notably Mainzu, Monopole and Natucer. For these brands, renewed interest in small format tiles really plays to their strength.

One of the best overall displays came from the three Peronda brands: Peronda, Museum, and Harmony. All three offered strong new ranges; from the achingly beautiful Raku effect tiles of Peronda’s FS suite, through to metallic-effect tiles from Museum, to designer ranges from Harmony. While it can be difficult to see the commercial justification or design distinction between many brands in the tile sector, Peronda’s products make sense and offer great choices for different sectors of the market.

Ascer used Cevisama to announce the latest production and sales statistics for Spanish manufacturers, and these underlined the ongoing strength of Spain's tile sector. In 2019, Spanish tile sales grew by 4% with 75% of all sales going to Spain’s 185 export markets world-wide.

The 38th edition of Cevisama saw 800 exhibitors make their pitch for a share of this growing market. A number of prominent trends emerge: some building on design directions from 2018-19, others presenting something very new.

COOL NEUTRALS

Neutral tones enhanced by metallic motifs were popular this year. The iridescent reflections seen in Akila from Azteca, Stardust from Fanal, Iron 4D from Museum, and Grespania's Patina bring an edge of luxury and make use of natural light to visually expand a space.

Once again, geometric patterns and eccentric graphics were seen at the forefront of tile design. After years of toned-down styles, this trend really helped inject life and exuberance into the halls at Cevisama. Whimsical looks, including Vives' Art Déco inspired Pop collection, Aparici's Altea, and Arcana's uniquely designed wood-look Komi range, made bold statements and demonstrated tile’s ability to turn spaces into works of art.

As a complement to neutral tones, soft pastels and soothing hues were in abundance at Cevisama this year. However, many of these colours are also rich and warm, a long way removed from the rather insipid pastels of yesteryear.

The Travel range from Emotion Ceramics, Clash by Rocersa, and Bow from Harmony all point to the

Noa in Tanzania Almond from Porcelanosa is a tribute to the origins of ceramic tiles, celebrating their natural beauty and other qualities without relinquishing any of their functionality

Art by Rim Deco-Design

Corten porcelain “Sapphire” tiles from Aparici are available in various formats and colour options for exteriors

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gradual shift away from a more traditional neutral colour palette that dominated 10 years ago. These tiles can bring subtle colour to interiors. The key tones are muted pinks, blues, and greens. These 2020 hues visually enrich environments and lend a relaxing atmosphere.

MODERN TERRACOTTA

Terracotta is back in fashion again, so much so that the porcelain and ceramic stoneware manufacturers in the Spanish tile sector are making their own contemporary versions of this rustic-looking product. Ranges available are either making a virtue of the warmth of the surface and offering mono-colour tiles that are saturated in colour — some brown or beige, others leaning towards orange — or experimenting with geometry.

A number of brands, for example, are reinventing other styles of tile such as 3D or hydraulic formats by introducing earthy and clay tones into glazes and patterns. Some of the latest designs are picking up on the revival of seventies fashion.

ONE COLOUR

Although colour is having its moment in the design world, any trend always has its counterpoint and monochrome décor is also enjoying something of a comeback. Spanish producers are finding fresh ways to make white and

Strong, contrasting shades in Bestile’s Orion range

The Canyon collection from Gayafores is presented in four shades that revolve around grey and beige of various intensities, and is accompanied by a mosaic-type decoration

Zinc Green by Apavisa. “Zinc is everywhere. Everything ... everybody. Everyone,” according to the accompanying brochure.

Origin tile from Halcon Ceramicas The Matelier range from Equipe in Ocean Blue

Inspired by the Azul Bahía marble from Brazil, the Bay collection from Azteca consists of three colours: blue, silver, and grey. They come in a lacquered and matte finish.

black tiles interesting with intriguing reliefs, textures and subtle patterns and. Whilst there have always been advocates of the all-white scheme, the popularity of the all-black feature wall is rising, too.

Most notable, however, is the proliferation of dramatic mixes of black and white tiles that utilise geometric patterns and draw on almost any art movement from Art Deco to Pop Art. Formats can be in any style from mosaics and textured bricks to décor tiles and larger 3D pieces.

ART AND VOLUME

Formats that look as if they’ve been splashed with paint have been a talking point amongst visitors to this year’s exhibition. These eye-catching designs have allowed the producers to show off new inks for porcelain which don’t lose their vibrancy when heated, but they’re also illustrative of how playful ceramic tile manufacture can be.

In the coming months, look out for streaked effects with a touch of glitter and smudged designs that give the appearance of being worn by time. This type of ingenuity shows that ceramics can be customised to evoke almost any concept and are faithful in

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Marble reproductions were seen on many stands at Cevisama

Alsacia Cotto from the Small Size brand recreates the passage of time and the beauty of the old Cotto in 20mm thick porcelain

Dstone Ornato and Ash Lake Wall from Aparici

Impressionistic painterly brushstrokes will be an upcoming trend tile

reproducing a picture whether it is with sharp photorealism or impressionistic painterly brushstrokes.

It was not just colour and pattern that were making waves in 2020. One of the easiest ways of changing a space is to add volumetric surfaces. Of course, 3D tiles are not new in the tile industry but because of their increasing popularity with designers, Spanish manufacturers are coming up with ever more eclectic products. These include sinuous waves and lines to deconstructed shapes and graphic representations of flora and fauna to satisfy the demand for novelty. Thanks to their versatility, ceramics can be used to create all kinds of reliefs from a classic bevelled small format to large-scale geometrics. Some of the most outstanding examples are inviting to the touch.

From curved ridges and bevelled surfaces, to concave details, manufacturers are increasingly experimenting with texture and dimension. The latest sculpted tiles quite literally raise the bar in interior design. Wall tiles, like Donna by Peronda, Underground from Keraben, and Natucer's absolutely fantastic Custom d'Autore series, expertly exploit this trend to create one-of-a-kind looks.

Alongside this, Cevisama provided ample evidence that shapes and decorative tiles are enjoying a full-scale revival. And what a visual treat this major trend provided

Cevisama is known for its displays of bold patterned tiles

Realonda’s Rhombus+Hex range is inspired by the designs, architecture and craftwork of yesteryear

Blue tiles featured prominently in many displays at Cevisama

The Natural Fusion collection by Arcana Tiles represents the symbiotic union between wood and stone

for the show’s visitors. Bespoke shaped tiles stood out among its conventional counterparts in new ranges such as Cevica's Chintz, Roca Tile's Rockart, Apavisa's Intuition, and Onix's Hex XL collection. These carefullycreated ranges allow for more interesting layouts and bring a sense of sophistication to tiled interiors that have not been seen in recent years.

CLASSIC LOOKS

In contrast to these unique shapes, traditional formats were in abundance with a return of the subway tile in small and square formats. Pierre by Small Size, Delice by Gayafores, and Antiqua by Equipe, offer both interior and exterior solutions for all types of surfaces.

But there are also innovations in this area, with elongated rectangular formats, like 75 by 400mm, really adding to the designer’s armoury, with vertical, horizontal, and angled installation options all bringing a distinct flavour to the party.

Metro tiles have long been a great choice, but Cevisama saw many slightly deeper 150 by 300mm variants on display. These are ideal for creating a block of colour and require fewer tiles per square metre. 40

Peronda’s Lenk is a collection named after the famous Swiss ski resort. Its wood-effect tiles feature a veined design and it comes in a selection of seven colours with an antislip soft finish.

Cr. Lux Kionia Smeraldo from Pamesa Ceramica

Another really strong trend was bold marble-effect tiles. Marble-effects long been best sellers, adding elegance and style to any surface. At Cevisama this year, marble-effects came in bold colours, notable rich blues, with striking metallic veins and large format pieces adding to the visual impact of these statement designs.

Many of the key manufacturers displayed dazzling large format marble effects in hues of blue from indigo and cerulean to teal and sky. There were digitally printed slabs that resembled a Google Earth image in all its crystal-clear clarity, and other formats that were reminiscent of a richly veined marble – though not one that you’re likely to find in any quarry.

But this trend was not only limited to the marbleeffect porcelains, as blue cropped up in many of the carefully curated colour palettes chosen for a brand’s décor tiles and one of the most memorable offerings was a solid blue matte wall tile with subtle undulation. 42

Aleluia’s Detroit is an extruded porcelain collection

DESPATCHES FROM VALENCIA, SPAIN

Peter Halliday visited the Cevisama event this year and provided the following observations.

I spent a day at the fair, en route to the Qualicer conference. The suppliers I spoke with were happy with the results, especially from the busy two middle days of the event. More North American visitors were purchasing, especially following the new anti-dumping measures introduced in USA against China in 2019.

The first thing to notice at Cevisama was that blue tiles featured prominently in many displays from dark midnight, cobalt, right through to dusty sky blues. Dusty pinks were popular, and shades of green were also present in many displays.

Digital effects reigned supreme as manufacturers showed off the results of their continued investment in next generation, high definition digital glaze and decoration equipment. Metallic effects, sinking glaze, clever shaded highlights and granular frit resulted in a lot of surface texture to glazes that did not require special (and expensive) new press moulds. Examples of shaded tile mixes featured on a number of displays.

Brilliant marble reproductions were showcased at the Grespania stand in a display that caught and confused the eye. Bestile displayed everything from bright coloured 20 x 20cm wall tiles to large format cloud-like marble. Aparici featured subtle overlay patterns and a wild mix of graphic designs.

Every second year, the machinery sector displays the latest innovations in manufacturing.

Digital decoration company EFI Cretaprint was awarded the Alpha D’Oro prize for Hybrid Decoration of Ceramic Tiles because it developed a print head that can be used for both water-based and solvent based colourants. Combined with

IRON from Museum is inspired by weathering steel and its metamorphosis, further enhanced by the application of new 4D Shaped technology. The collection comes in two colours: Denim and Oxide.

The EFI Cretaprint stand at Cevisama 2020

Marble reproductions were a highlight at Grespania

digital glaze, it will reduce material consumption and be more environmentally friendly.

This development has been welcomed by manufacturers in a tangible way with EFI selling five machines in just two days. The installed price was estimated to be around AUD1 million each. EFI Cretaprint supplied the digital decoration equipment to Australia’s only porcelain tile manufacturer, NCI based in Maitland (NSW).

Spain has traditionally been the home of small format, decorative wall tiles so it was not surprising to find so many on display. A number of the bigger format manufacturers have even introduced small sizes (200 x 200mm, 65 x 250mm, 75 x 300mm) to try and capture more of what has been a growing global trend for some time. Vives again stunned visitors, deservedly winning the best exhibition stand award, with its latest modern heritage range, large marble and faux tessellated floors.

Large format porcelain slabs (what Americans now call “Thin Gauged Porcelain Tile”) was showcased by most manufacturers. The first production line to produce 3200 x1 200mm porcelain slabs for Neolith is located in Spain and even longer slabs are now being made.

It was another colourful, decorative Cevisama fair featuring many products to suit the Australian market from both Spanish and international firms. While Cersaie in Italy is the “must visit” tile fair for every tile buyer and those interested in trends, Cevisama is worth visiting to see more of what Spain can offer.

The Antiqua Blue collection from Equipe Ceramics

Zellige Blanco from Natucer Ceramica Natural

The Karacter collection by Apavisa can be specified in two different colours and sizes with a choice of natural or solid 2cm finish

Although it is not lost on many visitors to Cevisama that “Classic Blue” has recently been heralded as “colour of the year’, blue is a perennial favourite as it is an easy colour to live with and can be used as a neutral to replace black or grey.

Distressed-effect tiles, with care-worn decors, were also prominent, notably on stands such as Peronda; a brand that has perfected this design niche. One of the hottest contemporary home trends is Wabi Sabi, the Japanese world view centred on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete”.

Tile manufacturers have really embraced the idea that imperfections and natural characteristics are something to be celebrated, resulting in tiles that offer a natural, lived-in and distressed look for added interest.

Wood-effect tiles remain a major trend this year, with a vast number of styles and timber varieties available. A useful alternative to real timber, today’s wood-effect tiles often offer unmatched durability and style.

The beauty of timber grain, now enhanced by dualprinter technology, comes to the fore in the larger plank formats, but timber-effects can also play to the shabby chic and country cottage aesthetic, with distressed tiles and faux parquet looks. At Cevisama, wood-effects also made an impact on wall applications, and were seen in unexpected forms, such as hexagons.

Wall tiles have long been a strength at Cevisama, but it was still great to see such a choice of kitchen tiles at Valencia this year. Offered in a bewildering variety of shades, shapes, and colours, many of these kitchen designs are also suitable for use in bathrooms.

A number of the new patterned tiles were delivered in interesting combinations of yellow and blue, adding a pop of colour. One of the leaders in this area was Pamesa.

In contrast, grey tiles are here to stay. It continues to be a neutral colour of choice — there were hundreds of shades of grey wall tiles — but this hue also found its way into wood-effect and decorative tiles.

For 2020, the secret is combining grey tiles with accent hues, such as the saturated pastels that featured in many stands. Grey can work with mint, gold, and various green, blue and red hues. Cevisama saw these colours used together for a rainbow effect or in vibrant melanges. But they were also toned down with white tiles, or used to add a subtle hint of colour, on stands like Fabresa.

Hexagonal tiles and fish scale tiles are still very much on trend. They now come in all shapes and sizes, both plain and patterned. It seems that the honeycomb look is still a firm favourite, but for 2020 the trend seems to be for elongated hexagons with a linear design.

The Dyroy range by Harmony is inspired by the northern lights in Norway. The range of tones and patterns in this collection recreate the shifting lights and colours of the Artic nights.

Cosmopolitan range from Keraben Grupo’s Metropol brand

Delice from Gayafores is about the aesthetics and charm of a craft product that emerged at the end of the 19th century in the south of France as an alternative to stone floors

Keraben’s Rue De Paris collection is based on a search for visual simplicity

They shared the limelight with more subtle rhombusshaped tiles. These can be laid in a variety of ways and are ideal for feature walls or splashbacks.

The other geometric form of note was circular tiles. Now available in a variety of colours and styles, they can be complemented or contrasted with coloured grout. This is another form that helps tile installations to pop.

Pop Art, the fantastic curvy furniture of the late 60s and early 70s, and the large surface patterns of fabrics and textiles of that era, have influenced many of the most exciting décor ranges created by Spanish producers. A leading brand has even launched a tile series, reminiscent of the strobe light of a 70s Disco, that reflects light and features subtle flashes in its surface. Some of the small formats available imitate the chunky, angular ceramics of the decade with their rich syrupy glazes and a number of tile makers referenced the iconic houseplant Monstera Deliciosa or Swiss Cheese Plant.

The final two trends were no surprise. The first is, of course, extra large format tiles. It appears that, every year, tiles get bigger and bigger. At Cevisama, the main focus in the traditional tiling arena was on 1,200

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The Poitiers decorative wall tile collection from Harmony combines a handcrafted look with a shine evocative of traditional glazed ceramic tiles. It also has matching moulding tiles in the same shades.

Tiziano tile from Halcon Ceramicas

The Wicker Black Keeko range from Aparici

by 1,200mm tiles. These work well for large, open plan areas, reducing the number of grout lines and allowing digital graphics – notably tropical flora and fauna designs like the Swiss Cheese Plant – to really shine through.

Finally, the other area worth noting is 20mm exterior grade tiles. This was a top trend in 2019, and this year there were even more options available. A practical and beautiful alternative to paving slabs, 20mm tiles are strong, durable, anti-slip, and offer great installation versatility. They also play into the vogue for inside-out design. Once again Rocersa, with its pioneering DDS technology, led the way.

COMPANY RANGES

Aleluia Ceramicas presented some highly creative designs with a lot of colours, shapes, and textures, alongside more sustainable materials with several ranges in 4.5mm, aimed at the refurbishment market.

Detroit is an extruded porcelain collection with a markedly urban spirit. Using a 72 by 295mm format, it suits a variety of applications, from more classic compositions, such as herring bone or chevron, to more contemporary ones.

Pastel tones like ivory, rose, or green, Classic Blue, grey, and dark grey, or more arresting hues like terracotta or carbon, allow the design of sober environments or, through the combination of colours and patterns, bolder environments, including out of the square compositions.

Aleluia’s Skintech is a line of extruded porcelain tiles, 4.5mm thick. The reduced thickness allows the transport of a greater volume of material, and the environmental footprint is smaller, since the resources used for the manufacture of this product such as water, electricity, and raw materials are also reduced.

Citizen is a versatile collection inspired by cement. It comes in three colours — ivory, grey, and carbon — and two formats, 300 by 900mm and 300 by 600mm. Both are 4.5mm thick.

Softline is a range enriched by smooth embossed lines that project elegance and sophistication. The matte and gloss contrast of the linear relief add interest as they catch the light. It comes in the same three colours and the same two formats. This range is also accompanied by two types of mosaics that also deliver a matte and gloss contrast.

Sandstone shares the same three neutral tones, and two formats. This range is augmented by mosaics in three colours. The irregularity of the mosaics provides a fluid and natural look. Inspired by sandstone, this collection delivers sobriety and minimalism.

Finally, from Aleluia, the Color Art range features the flexibility of geometric patterns that result in the creation of original compositions. Offering the look of hand-painted tiles, it comes in two different formats; a

Spain has traditionally been the home of innovative small format, decorative wall tiles

The Extruded series from Cevica Decorative Tiles

Designed in house by Skheme, Havana is a handcrafted, screen printed porcelain tile inspired by the streets and colours of Cuba

Softline from Aleluia is a range enriched by smooth embossed lines

square in 140 by 140mm square, and a 150 by 150mm Arabesque. The combination of colours, between white, yellow, blue, and green, and the choice of plain and striped increases the design potential.

VISITOR DATA

Attendance figures for this year’s Cevisama, the 38th, were encouraging. The show, which ran from 3rd to 7th February at Feria Valencia, Spain, attracted a total of 92,435 visitors; 1.4% up on 2019. Of these, 21,364 were industry professionals; 5.86% up on 2019, and the largest overseas audience in the event’s 38-year history.

Feria Valencia’s Cevisama team was working on the preparations for next year’s edition — prior to the coronavirus pandemic. It has been set fresh objectives “to keep improving the service we deliver to our exhibitors and the value we deliver to visiting professionals”, said the fair's director, Carmen Álvarez.

The dates for the next edition are 8th to 12th February 2021. n

Vives won Cevisama’s best exhibition stand award

As the sign says. “Small tiles, Big design” on display at Cevisama

Peronda’s Opera is inspired by wood that reveals its most organic charms 4Senses Project: Sensory Ceramics from Mexican manufacturer, Ceramica Antique

BOW by Mut Design is a 15 x 45cm wall tile from Harmony. It is a modern take on traditional roof tiles.