Cersaie 2010, the international exhibition of ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishings, will be held this year from September 28 to October 2 at the Bologna Exhibition Center in Bologna, Italy. Now in its 28th year, the five-day, annual affair will feature over 1,000 exhibitors from 34 countries and typically draws over 90,000 design professionals from all over the world. This year's exhibitors will occupy more than 577,000-sq.-ft. of space.

"As in past years, exhibit space is completely sold out, which underscores the strength of such an influential annual event. We are constantly looking for ways to improve the overall trade show experience for both our exhibitors and attendees," says Franco Manfredini, chairman of Confindustria Ceramica.

Exhibitions and Offerings
Cersaie will again host the Building Dwelling Thinking conference as part of the events. David Childs, president emeritus and design partner at prestigious firm Skidmore, Owngs, & Merrill (SOM) will act as keynote presenter for the conference. He will discuss recent projects, such as the firm’s design and construction of Freedom Tower in New York City. Other conference headliners include Karim Rashid, Enzo Mari, Cino Zucchi, Natalie De Vries, and Mario Botta.

"This year's Building, Dwelling, Thinking program will focus on ‘Climate Change’ and feature close to 20 conferences and more than 50 speakers," comments Manfredini. "In addition, sustainability, the use of ceramic materials in urban architecture, and the relationship between social housing and population migration will be a few of the subjects covered in the conference program.”

The action-packed schedule features a series of "Architecture and Narrative" talks by leading architects, on topics like "The City in Pictures and Words,” and relevant seminars on such issues as tourism design, micro and macro social housing, the theory and ethics of design, and the use of ceramics in modern architecture. The program also includes an evening concert in Bologna's Piazza Maggiore and many opportunities to network and socialize.

Other notable exhibits are the Emilia-Romagna urban polis future; Ceramic Tiles of Italy – Playground; Beautiful Ideas; and the Central Saint Giles exhibit. This last exhibit, sponsored by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, invites young architects to participate in an on-site workshop for insight into design practice and to learn about Renzo Piano's recent completion of Central Saint Giles project in London.

The ticketed event is approximately $13 (€10) for walk-ins, but offers free admission to pre-registered professionals.

What's New in Tile

Cersaie highlights their "Say YeSSSS to Cersaie" 2010 trend preview with four key areas: style, sustainability, surroundings, and slim. The show will feature over 510 tile manufacturers.

Style: Inspired by popular TV shows like “Mad Men,” tile, like other design trends, is harkening back to the 1950s and 60s. Archetypal patterns, including masculine stripes and muted metallics, will receive a modern twist with the help of technology. Paolo Zani's Murmansk Collection for Ascot recalls vintage ostrich and crocodile skin accessories, while Patrick Norguet's Lines Collection and Nastro from FAP feature classic stripes. Fondovalle and Cersarda both offer lines with metallic elements, as well.

Sustainability: Durable, low-maintenance, and easy-to-clean tile is experiencing growth as more designs are expanding usage of the material beyond the kitchen and bath to other interior applications. Many Italian tile manufacturers now use a closed-loop process that recycles 100-percent of raw material and water wastes back into the production cycle. Eco-conscious offerings at Cersaie include Novabell's "ecosystem range", Marca Corona's Marmo Ecologico, and Casalgrande Padana's Bios. The Green Power line by Sant'Agostino is the first ceramic line featuring total compensation for carbon dioxide emissions.

Surroundings: Products inspired by the natural world will combine with digital technology for modern sophistication. Trends include many looks mirroring natural stone and luxurious marble, such as Gallura by Alfalux, Pietra Piasentina by Floor Grers, and Scabas by Coem. Phorma offers several wood-look lines, and Mutina will launch the unique The Big Bug hexagonal table with a tile top, the latest in their Bugs Family Collection.

Slim: Slender, eco-friendly tile that reduces energy consumption, raw materials, and transport costs is increasingly popular. The Italian tile industry will actually oversee a committee developing international standards for the manufacture and installation of thin tiles. Offerings include Laminam's Filo, Cotto D'Este's Kerlite lines, and Capri's I Travertini.