Confindustria Ceramica (the Italian Association of Ceramics) and the Italian Trade Agency announced the official call for entries for the 2021 Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition. Now in its 28th year, the competition recognizes top North American architecture and design firms and design students for their creative use of Italian ceramic and porcelain tile. Winning projects will exemplify innovative design while demonstrating the superior technical and aesthetic qualities of Italian tile. An international jury of design experts will select winners in four built categories - Residential (Single-Family), Residential (Multi-Family), Commercial, and Institutional - as well as a winner in the Student category. In addition to the juried winners, a People’s Choice Award will be given to a firm elected by the public for the second year in a row.
With the plethora of exciting residential projects submitted each year, Ceramics of Italy decided to divide Residential into two categories: Single-Family and Multi-Family. Projects in the four built categories – Residential (Single-Family), Residential (Multi-Family), Commercial and Institutional – must be designed by architects and designers based in North America and completed between January 2016 and March 2021. Projects may be domestic or international, and must feature a significant amount of Italian ceramic or porcelain tile produced by Ceramics of Italy member companies. All styles and scales of projects will be considered, from office buildings and spas to kitchen renovations and residential developments. The jury’s official criteria includes: the overall design of the project; the aesthetic and technical quality of the tile installation; the degree to which tile enhances the setting; and the project’s sustainable attributes.