The future of architecture lies in large formats
Mies van der Rohe, the architect behind some of the most important buildings of the last century and the maxim Less is more, would surely be delighted to know that the spatial continuity he pursued in his designs has found new possibilities for expression. The visionary German architect conceived and built his buildings as continuous, fluid spaces. The Barcelona Pavilion—one of his best-known projects—is organized as a continuous journey through interconnected indoor and outdoor spaces. Rather than enclosed rooms, juxtaposed walls define the spaces, while the chosen materials emphasize this continuity.
Today, it is possible to achieve a comparable aesthetic and a sense of complete visual continuity, with technical performance that reduces building maintenance costs while delivering enhanced functionality. Mies van der Rohe’s pioneering vision remains a reference point for contemporary architecture, both for its conception of fluid, continuous space and for its masterful use of materials.
Technology inspired by materials
Today’s most advanced technologies make outstanding results possible, particularly with porcelain stoneware. Digital decoration allows porcelain stoneware slabs to evoke a wide range of materials, from natural ones such as marble and wood to industrial ones such as metal and concrete. Working digitally, product research and development can refine the imperfections of the materials that inspire each surface.
In addition to exceptional aesthetic quality, technology has made it possible to produce formats on a scale never seen before.
Large slabs: aesthetics and functionality
Formats now reach 160 x 320 cm, making it possible to cover expansive spaces with fewer joints. Consider a hotel lobby, for example, where materials must accommodate heavy foot traffic while allowing fast, effective cleaning: here, a large slab is an ideal choice thanks to its performance and reduced maintenance requirements.
The combination of expressive potential, technical performance and functionality offers an ideal solution for creating visually continuous surfaces and extending their use to other design applications. Porcelain stoneware is a material that is ready to be selected and installed, significantly reducing construction times.
Unlike natural materials, it does not need to be quarried for each project and does not involve the same fabrication costs as stone, for example, making it an ideal choice for large-scale construction projects.
Horizontal and vertical: two dimensions of living spaces
The distinctive qualities of large-format porcelain stoneware can offer advantages not only for floors but also for walls. Large formats can reduce the number of horizontal joints, allowing a vertical composition to be completed with a single band of material.
Porcelain stoneware slabs are suitable for every room in the home, enhancing both expansive walls and smaller spaces. They make it possible to create harmonious combinations of colors and furnishings, giving rise to distinctive, sophisticated interiors.
Large formats in bathroom design
The bathroom is undoubtedly one of the spaces where large formats can fully express their potential. Consider the continuity from floor to ceiling and the visual connection with built-in features such as bathtubs and showers. Bathroom interiors have long embraced a soft, minimalist aesthetic that highlights architectural materials and furnishings, transforming the bathroom into a small spa at home.
To ensure lasting usability and everyday practicality, architects continually seek materials that are easy to live with without compromising on aesthetics. Large formats inspired by marble, stone and onyx offer a perfect balance of aesthetics and function.
Urban aesthetics
Designing a building today is a complex undertaking that must meet performance and environmental regulations while contributing to a high-quality urban landscape. At this scale, large formats can be an attractive option for creating continuous-looking surfaces. Slabs are securely anchored to a metal framework supporting the entire facade, within a system whose thermal performance and maintenance requirements depend on its layered construction, insulation and installation methods.
Large formats are therefore a choice capable of meeting the needs of projects at every scale and offering an ideal solution for contemporary living, which increasingly demands high performance combined with design-led aesthetics.