Percorsi in ceramica 35
Angels over Berlin may be a phrase synonymous with the title of Wim Wenders’s visionary film, yet for some time now something rather more tangible, although just as visionary, has been sparkling amidst the skyline of the German capital. We are referring, of course, to the new residential complex christened Sapphire. Created by Studio Daniel Libeskind, the designer whose creative energy is divided between music, poetry and architecture, the building itself is an eloquent example of Libeskind’s talents. But as the man himself has long prepared us to expect, it represents a challenge from both a construction and technological standpoint, underlining the symbiotic relationship between architecture and construction. The iconic originality of the building, its unusual lines, and the sophistication of its internal spaces – which encourage another way of living – are draped in a casing which itself poses a challenge within the challenge. It is a skin of Bios Self-Cleaning Antibacterial® porcelain stoneware with a 3D surface. These tiles belong to the Fractile line, designed by Libeskind himself, and are exclusively produced by Casalgrande Padana. Over 3600 ceramic pieces were used for the cladding, with upwards of 3100 of these cut to measure in order to fit the complex geometry of the design down to the millimetre. The cladding is supported by a highly energy efficient ventilated façade system developed by Padana Engineering, the department of Casalgrande Padana focusing solely on this type of complex project. As we explain in these pages, Sapphire represents a unique project showcasing the very best in design and production while striking the perfect balance between creative forms, practical requirements, technological innovation, and all-round quality. Yet this edition of Percorsi goes further than simply profiling Sapphire. We also provide a range of useful information and news around the many cultural activities and production avenues on the Casalgrande Padana agenda at the current time, as well as news of a prestigious award won by Earth by Pininfarina. First and foremost, we announce the packed schedule of design events set to take place at the Creative Centre in Milan. Organised in collaboration with Casabella Formazione, the events are split into two broad cycles: the first is dedicated to several important architectural studios, who will introduce some of their recent works, while the second is set to showcase a number of movies and short films around the theme of Cinema and Architecture. On top of that, we’ll look back at the new products unveiled by Casalgrande Padana at the most recent edition of Cersaie, including the Marmoker, Pietre di Paragone, Beton, and Resina collections.
Angels over Berlin may be a phrase synonymous with the title of Wim Wenders’s visionary film, yet for some time now something rather more tangible, although just as visionary, has been sparkling amidst the skyline of the German capital. We are referring, of course, to the new residential complex christened Sapphire. Created by Studio Daniel Libeskind, the designer whose creative energy is divided between music, poetry and architecture, the building itself is an eloquent example of Libeskind’s talents. But as the man himself has long prepared us to expect, it represents a challenge from both a construction and technological standpoint, underlining the symbiotic relationship between architecture and construction. The iconic originality of the building, its unusual lines, and the sophistication of its internal spaces – which encourage another way of living – are draped in a casing which itself poses a challenge within the challenge. It is a skin of Bios Self-Cleaning Antibacterial® porcelain stoneware with a 3D surface. These tiles belong to the Fractile line, designed by Libeskind himself, and are exclusively produced by Casalgrande Padana. Over 3600 ceramic pieces were used for the cladding, with upwards of 3100 of these cut to measure in order to fit the complex geometry of the design down to the millimetre. The cladding is supported by a highly energy efficient ventilated façade system developed by Padana Engineering, the department of Casalgrande Padana focusing solely on this type of complex project. As we explain in these pages, Sapphire represents a unique project showcasing the very best in design and production while striking the perfect balance between creative forms, practical requirements, technological innovation, and all-round quality. Yet this edition of Percorsi goes further than simply profiling Sapphire. We also provide a range of useful information and news around the many cultural activities and production avenues on the Casalgrande Padana agenda at the current time, as well as news of a prestigious award won by Earth by Pininfarina. First and foremost, we announce the packed schedule of design events set to take place at the Creative Centre in Milan. Organised in collaboration with Casabella Formazione, the events are split into two broad cycles: the first is dedicated to several important architectural studios, who will introduce some of their recent works, while the second is set to showcase a number of movies and short films around the theme of Cinema and Architecture. On top of that, we’ll look back at the new products unveiled by Casalgrande Padana at the most recent edition of Cersaie, including the Marmoker, Pietre di Paragone, Beton, and Resina collections.