The competition, which was sponsored by Confindustria Ceramica and Italian Trade Agency, honors North American architects who utilize Italian ceramic and porcelain tile. The international jury reviews submissions from architects, designers, and students across multiple categories. This year’s competition had a record-breaking seven winners and two honorable mentions in four built categories and one student category.
In the Multi-Family Residential category, the Rockwell Group won for its luxury residential development, The Waterline Club, located in New York, N.Y. The project featured tile from Florim, as well as distributors Lazer Marble and Granite Corp., as well as contractor Garcia Marble and Tile.
In Single-Family Residential, the firm Taller Ken took home the prize for its gorgeous Casa Las Vistas, located in Costa Rica. Tile manufacturers include Italgraniti and Ornamenta, as well as distributor Kamalio and contractor AIE Construction.
Single Family also had an honorable mention in Mojo Stumer Associates, for their Miami Penthouse project which featured Florim Tile, under contractor Dutchmaster Tile and Marble.
In the Commercial category, the firm Post Brothers won for their Philadelphia project The Cove at the Piazza. This project, an outdoor pool area, featured tile from Mirage. The firm worked with distributors Nemo Tile, Mirage, Mega Supply Pro, and worked with contractors Philly Tile Inc., DA&W Construction, Poolside Plaster, and BN Painting LLC. Installation products are Mapei.
This category also had an honorable mention: Bells + Whistles, for their Marrow Fine project in Newport Beach, Calif., which utilized Ceramica Fioranese tile.
The Institutional category had one winner with two different projects. The firm Gow Hastings Architects designed Fleming College A-Wing, Sutherland Campus in Peterborough, Ontario. This design feature Panaria Ceramica and CE.SI Ceramica, with distributor Stone Tile International Inc. and contractor Rytiff Flooring. The second project is the Niagara College Welland Student Commons in Welland, Ontario. This project featured tile from Ergon and Gambini Tile on Time, with distributors Stone Tile International Inc and Centura Tile, as well as contractor Adler’s Main Tile. Both projects utilized Mapei installation products.
The student category featured two sets of winners. The first winners, Fangming Cai and Yang Pei, of Pratt Institute, created a shared living space using ceramic tiles from ABK and AVA Ceramica. The second set of winners, Sarah Gbobo and Emily Guan, also of Pratt, designed a G2 Yoga and Bath using Roberto Cavalli, Gardenia Orchidea, and La Fabbrica tile.
Ceramics of Italy is one of five sponsors of Coverings 2021. The other sponsors include Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association of Spain (ASCER)/Tile of Spain, Tile Council of North America (TCNA), National Tile Contractors Association (NCTA), and Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA).
Coverings is the largest ceramic tile and natural stone trade fair and conference in North America. This year’s event was held from July 7 to July 9 in Orlando, Florida.
