Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition 2026: The Winning Projects
From a Florida residence to a Sydney airport bar, the 2026 winners show how Italian ceramic shapes homes, hotels and public spaces worldwide.
Confindustria Ceramica's Ceramics of Italy International Tile Competition announced its 2026 winners on 23 September. The award recognises architects and designers who use Italian ceramic tile in outstanding projects. This year's jury was chaired by Steve Clem, principal at TVS in Atlanta.
Residential — "Spoonbill", Manalapan, Florida
Designed by 610 Interiors with tiles from Leonardo Ceramica and ABK, this contemporary residence uses ivory and soft-white ceramic surfaces to blur the line between inside and outside.
Commercial — Terradamari Resort & Spa, Marina di Modica, Sicily
Studio Chiara Caberlon combined surfaces from Coem, Fioranese and Ceramica Sant'Agostino with traditional Sicilian design references for a hospitality project that feels rooted in its place.
Outdoor — Villa Delago, Torri del Benaco, Lake Garda
JM Architecture designed a single-storey pavilion where large-format ceramic slabs by Casalgrande Padana cover even the roof — a strong example of porcelain stoneware used as a true building envelope.
Design & New Applications — Icebergs Bar and Kitchen, Sydney Airport T3
Lazzarini Pickering Architetti used handcrafted glazed tiles by Tuscan maker Franco Pecchioli Ceramica to give an airport terminal a warm, crafted identity.
The takeaway
Across all four categories, ceramic is doing more than covering floors: it defines atmosphere, connects interior and landscape, and increasingly forms roofs and façades. Many of these manufacturers come from the same Italian ceramic districts whose tiles and slabs we bring to Lebanon.
Source: TileLetter
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