Porcelain and the use of ceramics in furniture, by Regina Galvão

When it comes to porcelain, there are many advantages to list. Ceramic coating, produced with resistant and durable raw materials, has a long service life, low water absorption and, thereby, low incidence of stains, scratches and breaks. Your boards, less porous, are also more resistant to fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms.

Easy to clean and with a wide range of sizes, cores, textures and prints, It is no coincidence that porcelain tiles have become one of the most sought after coverings in the construction market., serving different projects, environments and styles.

The curious, from now on, was to notice that, in addition to floors and walls, the material also gained prominence in furniture design. In the latest editions of Cersaie, the largest coverings fair on the planet based in Bologna, in Italy, it was possible to observe the increasing application of ceramic pieces in furniture.

Marble Gris PO 120x240cm | Project: Pietro Oliveira | Photo: Evelyn Muller | Production: Deborah Apsan

No brazil, It has been no different and Eliane soon noticed this trend, coming forward with a project that he proposed, to renowned designers, create furniture items with ceramic models from both brands.

The result of this challenge was presented at the exhibition Novos Tempos, House in Brazil Eliane, during DW!, the Sao Paulo Design Week, in October of 2021.

As project curator, It was up to me to select the studios that would participate in the exhibition. Most of them, like F.studio, I had never worked with the material in furniture. Minas Gerais designers chose Micron, from Eliane, for the design of a sideboard. “We chose this coating because of the colorful mass, which provides a better finish when cutting the tops. The thickness of the material (11 mm) also influenced our choice, because we wanted something that brought proportionality in relation to the metallic structure that supported these pieces”, says Fernando Fernandes, one of the partners. “It is also a good alternative for places that require greater resistance to bad weather.. In addition to being attractive for its textures and colors.”

Micron Branco, Micron Coral, Micron Gray, Micron Preto NA 80x80cm | Project: Fstudioarquitetura | Photo: Evelyn Muller

Beyond F.studio, participated in this selection, os designers: Alexandre Brunato; Aristeu Pires; Platform4; Jack e Sergio driver; em2design; Karol Suguikawa; Pietro Oliveira; Rodrigo Almeida; and Ronald Sasson. Each of them chose one or more models from the portfolio for different types: chaise, with better valued angles, armchair, banks, young man, mirror and even a series of clocks.

For Alexandre Brunato, who also participated as technical director of the Novos Tempos exhibition, advising the group in the development of furniture, the use of the material has become more financially accessible, attracting more designers to use the product. This in addition to the ease of cutting in large formats and ballasts.

Marble Branco PO 120x240cm | Project: Karol Suguikawa | Photo: Evelyn Muller

“Another point to consider is the greater number of companies processing porcelain tiles in a careful manner., which makes for more interesting shapes.”, says Brunato, adding: “In my architectural projects, I try to use as little diversity of materials as possible and, with porcelain, I can use just one of them to cover the floor, wall, e, possibly, even the furniture in the house”.

Designer Sergio Fahrer highlights the versatility and usability of porcelain tiles, already incorporated into your collections. “It is not only an alternative but also an innovation compared to what we usually use to make furniture., such as wood and synthetics. I like it when we can decontextualize material from its traditional use and put it in a new perspective, provoking the user and causing a new experience. Provided, like this, a new look for the observer”, concludes Fahrer.