Confindustria Ceramica (the Italian Association of Ceramics) and the Italian Trade Agency are proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition. For the first time, the competition expanded its reach to firms worldwide, receiving an ‘exceptional response from the international design community’, with entries showcasing ‘outstanding architectural and interior design projects featuring Italian ceramic and porcelain tile from Ceramics of Italy member brands’.
As part of the ‘Building, Dwelling, Thinking’ event program at Cersaie 2026, the award ceremony for the Ceramics of Italy International Tile Competition took place on Wednesday 23rd September in ‘The Square’ at the BolognaFiere Service Centre.
Residential category winner – Spoonbill
Studio 610 Interiors, Manalpan (Florida, USA)
Featuring tiles from Leonardo Ceramica and ABK. Overlooking a tranquil protected basin, the Spoonbill residence interprets contemporary luxury through a restrained architectural language and a refined minimalist sensibility. Conceived as gallery-like spaces, the interiors are unified by ivory and soft white ceramic surfaces that create a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor environments. Its continuous dialogue with the waterfront and integration into the surrounding landscape define a living experience centered on wellbeing, where materials, light, and architecture come together in perfect balance.
Commercial category winner – Terradamari Resort & Spa Marina di Modica – Tapestry by Hilton
Studio Chiara Caberlon, Marina di Modica (Italy)
Featuring tiles from Coem, Fioranese, and Ceramica Sant’Agostino. Within the luxury hospitality landscape, Terradamari Resort & Spa interprets relaxation and well-being through architecture deeply integrated into the Sicilian landscape. Designed by Chiara Caberlon, the resort offers expansive sea views and a design that, through ceramic surfaces, reinterprets traditional motifs and natural textures in a contemporary language. Sustainable materials and local solutions complete a project attentive to the environment, the local area, and people.
Outdoor category winner – Villa Dellago
JM Architecture, Torri Del Benaco (Italy)
Featuring the use of ceramic surfaces by Casalgrande Padana. Nestled on one of the natural terraces overlooking Lake Garda, the villa blends seamlessly into the landscape, preserving the site’s century-old olive trees and cypress trees. The single-storey pavilion, organized around two generous courtyards, establishes a continuous dialogue with the outdoors through a wraparound portico, defined by a slender white aluminium structure that enhances the porcelain stoneware surfaces. The swimming pool follows the site’s natural topography, while the roof – conceived as a fifth façade and clad in large-format ceramic slabs – emerges as one of the project’s defining architectural features.
Design and New Applications category winner – Icebergs Bar and Kitchen at Sydney Airport T3
Lazzarini Pickering Architetti, Sidney (Australia)
Featuring tiles from Franco Pecchioli Ceramica. The project brings the atmosphere of Bondi Beach’s iconic long lunches to the dynamic setting of Sydney Airport’s Terminal 3, offering travellers an immersive retreat within the constant flow of the terminal. Suspended forms, handcrafted glazed tiles from Tuscany and carefully orchestrated lighting evoke the colours and reflections of the Pacific. Ceramic surfaces, wrapping counters and monolithic tables, become the defining feature of the space. Sustainability is expressed through durable materials designed for intensive use and an energy-efficient lighting scheme that maximises the contribution of natural daylight.
The jury also selected five projects as ‘Honorable Mentions’. The Design and New Applications category honourable mention, with two recipients, was achieved in a UK-based project for ‘Staples Table’ by London-based studio SMITHS, featuring slabs by Casalgrande Padana.
Created as an interactive installation to present the potential of ceramics to London’s architectural community, the Staples table challenges a purely aesthetic view of porcelain stoneware by highlighting its strength and construction versatility. A single white, essential and tactile slab becomes a structural element through a sequence of self-supporting planes, assembled dry and held together solely by their own weight, without adhesives, silicones or mechanical fixings. Designed to be dismantled and reassembled, the system enhances the original slab format, avoiding unnecessary cuts while preserving its integrity and performance.
The distinguished international jury was chaired by Steve Clem, Principal at Atlanta-based firm TVS, and included Alfonso Femia, architect, designer, founder and president of Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia; architect Donatella Bollani, who specializes in design, sustainability, and communication, and is the former deputy editor of Domus; and Filippo Manuzzi, Chairman of the Confindustria Ceramica Promotional Activities and Fairs Commission.
View the full list of winners and honourable mentions.
