architecture

IC4HD-HDExpo2021-GrassiPietre_Green

GREEN | Grassi Pietre

IC4HD-HDExpo2021-GrassiPietre_Green

Grassi Pietre places sustainability at the center of its production and business development policies. The natural materials are extracted from underground quarries, with a minimum impact from a landscape and environmental point of view for the surrounding area. When the quarry is exhausted, the entrance is secured, and the surrounding environment restored. The quantity of extracted material is regulated to allow the procurement of the company in compliance with regional and national regulations.

Grassi Pietre also pays attention to the use of renewable energy, thanks to the use of a modern photovoltaic system installed at the production plant in Nanto (VI).

With a view to recovering waste material resulting from the excavation and transformation of natural stone, in recent years Grassi Pietre has developed a line of cement agglomerates made with a mixture of Vicenza stone grit, white Portland cement and water. This product, called PIETRANOVA , allows the company to give new life to materials that would otherwise be considered as waste, and to improve at the same time the technical characteristics of natural stone. Only recycled material is used for the mixture, namely Vicenza stone coming directly from the Grassi Pietre quarries, which gives the finished product beauty and value, also thanks to the high percentage of natural stone used. Pietranova is available in three color variants, white, yellow and gray, depending on the residue of grit that is used in the mixture.

Pietranova is an ecological and environmental-friendly material, as it does not contain epoxy resins or dangerous chemicals. Aside from stone grit, only white Portland cement and water are used for the production of Pietranova: since cement is an inert material, the resulting agglomerate is completely ecological, free from harmful substances. Pietranova is a 100% Made in Italy product, is CE certified and meets all legislation requirements for the uses for which it is intended. Thanks to its low environmental impact, it can be installed in any place and is an exceptional solution for modern construction.

Grassi Pietre continues its investments in research and development, creating in the last year a new ecological product to integrate the Pietranova offer and recover production waste: a new cement agglomerate, called Alpi 4.0 , made with clasts of Grigio Alpi and Grigio Argento, produced without any resins or harmful chemicals.

Grassi Pietre aim to reduce production scraps is also demonstrated by the new PATTERN  collection for wall and floor tiles, created for the company new showroom in Nanto (VI). The reduced formats permit to make the most of the raw slabs, minimizing waste and optimizing production.

All this is possible thanks to Grassi Pietre team of experienced technicians and operators who are constantly updated, thanks to the continuous training that the company offers. In Grassi Pietre, technology and craftsmanship blend together: new refined projects made with the historic materials of the company’s quarries are the result of craftsmanship and the best technologies available for stone processing. The expertise of the team of highly qualified personnel allows Grassi Pietre to develop any project by offering the necessary technical and design support.

Discover Grassi Pietre at the upcoming HD Expo Las Vegas, August 24-25, 2021.

in 2021 HD / Grassi Pietre / GREEN / Hospitality Design

PROJECTS | Piva Windows

Contemporary architecture demands a perfect balance between indoor living spaces and outdoor settings.

The Hi-Finity panoramic system by PIVA Windows creates a new sense of space by letting as much natural light as possible penetrate the interior, while its minimalist design merges excellent performance, boundless visibility and living comfort to perfection.

Discover the technique of Piva Windows at the upcoming HD Expo Las Vegas, August 24-25, 2021.

in 2021 HD / Hospitality Design / Piva Windows
IC4HD-HDExpo2021-LeaCeramiche_PradaTowerMilano

PROJECTS | Lea Ceramiche | Prada Tower Milan

IC4HD-HDExpo2021-LeaCeramiche_PradaTowerMilano

Lea Ceramiche‘s experience in the production of ceramics, capability in creating surfaces appropriate for any setting – interior spaces, architectural projects, installations and more – and ability to deliver highly customisable solutions have allowed the company to tackle a large number of design challenges around the globe over the years, often working with the world’s leading industry professionals and designers. The company’s most recent project is another prestigious one that has seen Lea Ceramiche team up with the Prada Foundation.

A few months ago, the Prada Tower was completed in the southern part of Milan. Designed by Rem Koolhaas with Chris van Duijn and Federico Pompignoli from the OMA design studio, the tower represents the final piece in the Prada Foundation jigsaw, after its launch three years ago. The building – made from white cement – encompasses nine storeys: six stories are home to exhibition areas, while the other three feature a restaurant and other visitor services.

Atop the tower is a terrace with rooftop bar, designed to be a flexible, exclusive space. The flooring features an optical illusion in black and white, made using tiles from Lea Ceramiche’s Absolute collection. The design is made up of a sequence of rectangular tiles in Slimtech porcelain stoneware which have been cut to measure and arranged according to a set geometric pattern. As a result, the surface seems bigger, while the mirrors used around the edges of the terrace erase the barrier between the rooftop space and the stunning 360° views of the city. The minimalism and purity of the materials – which feature just two dominant colors – and the unique laying pattern create attractive, subtle curves on the surface, delivering a high-impact aesthetic punch to the terrace.

Absolute Total White was also used for the flooring of some of the service areas, with bespoke 12x12cm tiles produced to create a tight criss-cross pattern on the surface. The Absolute collection is part of Slimtech by Lea Ceramiche, a revolutionary line of porcelain stoneware tiles combing large formats (3m x 1m and 260 x 120cm) with reduced thicknesses of 3.5, 5.5 and 6mm. The impressive tiles have been created using cutting-edge technology that has completely revolutionized ceramic manufacturing techniques. Their lightness, strength and versatility have made possible applications and creations that would have been unthinkable until recently, in both the residential and architectural sectors. As in the Prada Tower terrace project, the qualities of the tiles – combined with the company’s production capabilities and expertise – have enabled Lea Ceramiche to adapt its standard formats to fit the requirements of the designers and supply a custom-made product. It’s a fine example of how designers can work with members of the dynamic Italian production sector to great effect.

Credits:
Project: Prada Tower
Location: Milan, Italy
Project by: OMA

Lea Ceramiche products: Slimtech Absolute
Laminated porcelain stoneware reinforced with fiberglass
Thickness: 5,5mm
Colors: Total Black, Total White
Sizes: 100x100cm, 100x300cm
Finishes: Sat, Lev
With Protect antibacterial protection www.protect.panariagroup.it

Discover the whole range of Lea Ceramiche products at the upcoming HD Expo Las Vegas, August 24-25, 2021.

in 2021 HD / Hospitality Design / Lea Ceramiche

GREEN | Piva Windows

PVA is a very ecological material in terms of environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. It does not affect natural resources; it is made from raw materials, without drawing on those with limited availability and compared to other competing materials has a minimal environmental load in terms of CO2 emissions.

Discover Piva Windows at the upcoming HD Expo Las Vegas, August 24-25, 2021.

in 2021 HD / GREEN / Hospitality Design / Piva Windows