Four Surface Design Innovations at Cersaie 2025. Photo by Iris Ceramica and Alchimia by VBH.

Design, Technology. At Cersaie, the premier fair for flooring, wall coverings, and bathroom design, technology makes the difference. Carried out in engineering and chemistry labs, these surface design innovations are invisible – rooted into the very matter of the materials – but they catch you by surprise when you discover that you can switch the walls on, or effortlessly lift concrete slabs.

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Riva Cabinet by Patricia Urquiola x CIMENTO – Photo by Matteo Balsamini.

Iris Ceramica and Alchimia by VBH presented a mesmerising technology that allows ceramic surfaces to contain and conceal audio-video screens and playback systems, seamlessly making them appear and disappear on command. The ceramic surface can therefore host a monitor and transform into a resonating body capable of transmitting sound. This groundbreaking solution that fuses advanced technology with timeless, superior ceramic beauty, elevates the future of luxury interiors. At the fair, it came to life through digital morphing by visual artist Lorenza Liguori.

CIMENTO® offered a different kind of surprise: concrete that defies its own weight. Made from a compound of mineral aggregates and binders, the brand’s surfaces are strong yet astonishingly light. For its debut at Cersaie, CIMENTO® presents a tile and furniture collection by Patricia Urquiola, along with its latest surface finishes, showcasing the brand’s ongoing aesthetic, material, and increasingly sustainable evolution. Also on display is a collection of CIMENTO-based doors designed by Elisa Ossino for Scrigno.

Montebello, CIMENTO-based door by Elisa Ossino x Scrigno – Courtesy of CIMENTO®.

RAK Ceramics, an Emirati company and global player in the ceramic sector, brought a touch of softness to Cersaie with its new SOFTECH technology. The secret lies in a micro-particle process that smooths out tiny surface cavities, resulting in a finish that feels velvety to the touch, looks beautifully uniform, and is easy to keep clean. A perfect example is the I Sassi collection, a contemporary line inspired by the ancient stone dwellings of Matera in southern Italy. Offered in two styles and a palette of four natural shades from warm beige to cool grey, it’s a modern take on timeless stone.

I Sassi ceramic collection by RAK Ceramics – Photo by RAK Ceramics.

Among the start-ups, Taleta presented One Up, a patented surface treatment using a hydroalcoholic suspension of nanoparticles for washable materials. Applied to glass or external ceramic surfaces, it creates a self-cleaning effect, reducing both water usage and the need for chemical detergents. It’s not only a practical solution but also better for the planet.

Courtesy of Taleta.

Photos and videos are courtesy of the companies.

CIMENTO surface collection – Photo by @sRivoltella10.