Contemporary ceramic is no longer limited to covering surfaces. Porcelain stoneware has become a furnishing material that defines volumes, integrates technology, and creates new relationships between surfaces, objects, and architecture. It can take the form of a washbasin, shape a tabletop, incorporate an induction cooktop, or become a striking decorative backdrop.
Casalgrande Padana‘s research explores this evolution through a range of ceramic furnishings created to establish continuity between architecture, function, and objects. Aquatio, Convivialis, Ghost, Elements, and Imagina represent five different ways porcelain stoneware can be used beyond traditional tile.
Aquatio: a cohesive bathroom becomes a cohesive project
In the contemporary bathroom, every element contributes to a sense of order and well-being. With Aquatio, porcelain stoneware slabs become washbasins, shelves, and shower trays distinguished by clean lines and balanced proportions.,
Paired with a long matching shelf, the suspended blue washbasin perfectly illustrates the system’s potential: the color is not simply a decorative accent but shapes a volume that gives character to the entire space. The neutral walls and glossy aqua-colored tiles create a subtle contrast, while the vanity appears to emerge directly from the architecture.
Aquatio uses thin 6mm-thick slabs, can be customized in size, and is treated with Bios Antibacterial® technology. This combination makes it possible to create custom-designed bathrooms for luxury residences and hospitality spaces alike.
Convivialis: porcelain stoneware enters the living area
The table is at the heart of everyday life in the home. With Convivialis, ceramic defines its surface and transforms the perception of the material: solid yet visually lightweight, refined yet capable of showcasing a wide variety of finishes.
Supported by minimalist metal frames, the round marble-effect coffee tables introduce a delicate graphic element into the living room. Meanwhile, the large dining table uses a thin slab to create an elegant tabletop, suited to contemporary interiors where the material engages in dialogue with wood, textiles, and earthy tones.
The collection includes rectangular, square, round, oval, and hexagonal designs for both indoor and outdoor settings. A key design advantage is the ability to coordinate surfaces with the flooring, kitchen, or other elements in the space, without necessarily resorting to a total look.
Ghost: technology disappears into the kitchen countertop
In the kitchen, visual continuity becomes a form of understated luxury. Ghost integrates the induction cooktop directly into the porcelain stoneware, eliminating the traditional dark cooktop mounted on the countertop.
The cooking area remains clearly identifiable through its controls and illuminated perimeter; yet when not in use, the countertop returns to a seamless, uninterrupted surface. The image of the large black island, crossed by white and gold veining, effectively conveys this concept: the technology is present, but it does not dominate the design.
Ghost is compatible with 12 mm and 20 mm ceramic slabs, transforming the island into a monolithic volume suited to open-plan kitchens and interiors where cooking, serving, and conversation unfold within the same space.
Elements and Imagina: designing and decorating the space
With Elements, porcelain stoneware becomes a system for coordinating different surfaces. Three textures can work together tone on tone or contrast urban, textured, and wood-effect finishes. Walls, floors, and volumes thus acquire a richer relationship: not a uniform repetition, but continuity created through carefully controlled variations.
Imagina, by contrast, explores the narrative potential of large-format slabs. Flowers, butterflies, landscapes, and architectural motifs transform the wall into a dramatic backdrop, offering the visual impact of designer wallpaper with the material presence of ceramic. Patterns and graphics can be customized to create decorative backdrops for the living room, dining room, or conversation area.
Ceramic as a furnishing material thus opens up a broader perspective: designing the home no longer means choosing flooring, wall coverings, and furniture separately. Instead, it means creating a cohesive design language in which the same material can protect, decorate, perform a function, and define an object.