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