Collaborations

A meeting with innovation at Cersaie 2023

From 25 to 29 September 2023, architects from all over the world are invited to Bologna, Italy, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Cersaie, the International Exhibition of Ceramics and Bathroom Furnishings.

For 40 years, Cersaie has been gathering the world’s leading manufacturers in Bologna, Italy. Every year, architects and other professionals come here to find out what’s new in the sector.

Ceramic materials continue to be the subject of many scientific and engineering research projects, so innovation in the industry is constant. And on the decorative side, thanks to the work of many designers, ceramic surfaces are constantly being reinvented so that they never go out of fashion. At each new edition of Cersaie, an appointment is made with discovery.

In 2023, Cersaie celebrates its fortieth anniversary. For this anniversary edition, the fair will be taking visitors on a journey back in time, through the four decades of history and discoveries presented at Cersaie, but also into the near and far future – “a journey back in time, but above all a door that opens onto the future”.

The tour will be guided by Route 40, an itinerary punctuated by exhibitions organised by Davide Vercelli and designed by Dario Curatolo. Route 40 will criss-cross the aisles of Cersaie, inviting visitors to enjoy a journey through the fair’s forty-year history. The exhibitions will focus on the design, technology, products and companies that have marked the history of Cersaie, while highlighting the major changes in culture and industry over the last forty years.

Measuring and cultivating the achievements of the past in order to project ourselves into the future; rethinking architectural projects using innovative materials, even for non-traditionnal applications such as furnishing accessories, infrastructures and cruise ships. This is what visitors to the 2023 edition of Cersaie are invited to do.

In this spirit, the Cersaie organisers have invited Chinese architect Xu Tiantian to speak at a special conference on Wednesday 27 September. Founder of the DnA Design and Architecture studio, Xu Tiantian was recently awarded a 2023 Global Award for Sustainable Architecture for her meticulous work in revitalising China’s heritage. Her work aims to repair the heritage by introducing a contemporary architectural language, transforming it into a symbol of hope for a sustainable future, and stimulating further development through precise architectural interventions.

Xu Tiantian (DnA Design and Architecture) — Huiming Tea Workshop, Jingning County, Lishui (China), 2020. ©Ziling Wang

To find out more about the programme and consult the list of exhibitors at the 2023 edition of Cersaie – the International Exhibition of Ceramics and Bathroom Furnishings – visit www.cersaie.it

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