Contract - May 2012 - (Page 46)

More than 800 companies from 50 countries exhibit the latest design trends 1 2 3 4 More than 800 companies exhibited at Coverings (1). traverwood from bella vita tile combines the fluid lines of travertine with the warm grain of wood (2). novocemento from Aparici shows curved, dimensional texture at restaurante Assuka in Lisbon, Portugal (3). boreal engineered, from italian designer giovanni barbieri for new ravenna Mosaics, is a deeply textured tile made from the dust of italian marble, which the artist molds into rippling surfaces (4). The country’s largest tile show, Coverings, returned to Orlando in April with more than 800 exhibitors from 50-plus countries, including a strong presence from Spain, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, and China. This year’s Coverings introduced several new elements, including the industry’s first comprehensive, multi-attribute sustainability standard and certification program. Developed by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) under the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) process, and approved by ANSI A108 Accredited Standards Committee, this standard scores companies and products in five categories: product characteristics, manufacturing, corporate governance, innovation, and end-of-life management. It is a certification program applicable to glass and ceramic tile, grout, mortar, backboard, underlayment, and waterproof membrane. Crossville, Interceramic, Ironrock, and Porcelanite-Lamosa achieved product certification prior to Coverings, with nine more companies expected to by year’s end. “This early adoption, within just a few months of the passage of the Green Squared ANSI standard, is a clear indication of the commitment North American manufacturers have made to sustainable manufacturing and products,” says Eric Astrachan, executive director of the Tile Council of North America. While stone and wood looks have been recently trending in ceramic, Coverings 2012 featured creative variations on standard aesthetics by digitally blending stone and wood visuals. One such porcelain tile was Traverwood from Bella Vita Tile, which combines the fluid lines of travertine with the warm grain of wood. And a consistent trend at the show was the implementation of texture over neutral tones of gray and white. Crossville debuted Shades, a porcelain collection made of 20 percent recycled content with subtle linear texture over minimalist hues. —Emily HoopEr 46 contractdesign.com may 2012 PhOTO: COurTESy Of COVErINGS (TOP LEfT) exhibition: Coverings The best in world tile at Coverings 2012 http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - May 2012

Contract - May 2012
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Coming Events
Exhibition: Coverings
Exhibition: Highlights from Salone Internazionale del Mobile
Product Focus: Enlivening the Flexible Office
Product Focus: A Collection to Define 21st Century Herman Miller
NeoCon® Preview
Hospitality’s Influence in Workplace Design
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Campus
Steelcase Office and Work Café
Shlemmer Algaze Associates
Red Bull Amsterdam
THQ
Grey Group Roof Deck
Knoll, East Greenville Headquarters
The Metrics of Distributed Work
Tools: Pinterested, by Design
Exhibition: Hallingdal 65
Designers Select: Office Furniture
Sources
Ad Index
Exhibition: Lasvit Liquidkristal by Ross Lovegrove

Contract - May 2012