World of Design: How Modern Geometric Designs Are Reinventing Cement
Intricate and eye-catching, the patterns of today’s cement tiles mark a break with their past while preserving an age-old technique
Cement tile dates to 19th-century Europe, where it was developed and then used widely in Art Nouveau architecture. The tile was a popular choice for floors in Spain (such as in Gaudí’s Barcelona), France, Germany and other countries around the world. Later, with the arrival of Bauhaus and other 20th-century styles, it fell out of favor.
Today, however, cement tile is once again becoming a floor covering of choice, driven by the boom in all things vintage and the growing appreciation for handmade products worldwide. While traditional cement tile designs are enjoying a revival, new patterns also are gaining in popularity. Designers and manufacturers are updating these tiles with contemporary geometric patterns, giving them a second life through a more versatile look.
Today, however, cement tile is once again becoming a floor covering of choice, driven by the boom in all things vintage and the growing appreciation for handmade products worldwide. While traditional cement tile designs are enjoying a revival, new patterns also are gaining in popularity. Designers and manufacturers are updating these tiles with contemporary geometric patterns, giving them a second life through a more versatile look.
What was new about these tiles was the fact that, unlike clay and ceramic tiles, they didn’t need to be fired. Besides being more practical, this means that the colors of the finished pieces differ very little from those of the wet ones. In contrast, since the firing process considerably alters the coloring of ceramic tiles, a complex testing process is required to ensure the desired color scheme.
The technique for creating cement tiles involves pressing a mass — composed of cement sand, natural stone granules and color pigments — into a mold in the shape of the tile (which can be square, hexagonal, octagonal). The mold also can contain a divider mold, known in Spanish as trepa, which is designed to keep the colors forming the pattern separate from one another, as shown here.
The tiles are made individually, with each one taking about three minutes to craft. After a tile is compacted in a press and removed from its mold, it is immersed in water for several hours to start the curing process — Portland cement sets and becomes adhesive due to a chemical reaction between the dry ingredients and water. The tile is then left to dry for about four weeks.
The technique for creating cement tiles involves pressing a mass — composed of cement sand, natural stone granules and color pigments — into a mold in the shape of the tile (which can be square, hexagonal, octagonal). The mold also can contain a divider mold, known in Spanish as trepa, which is designed to keep the colors forming the pattern separate from one another, as shown here.
The tiles are made individually, with each one taking about three minutes to craft. After a tile is compacted in a press and removed from its mold, it is immersed in water for several hours to start the curing process — Portland cement sets and becomes adhesive due to a chemical reaction between the dry ingredients and water. The tile is then left to dry for about four weeks.
Using the same technique, some manufacturers and designers have begun to explore new patterns for cement tile. The Drops collection, shown here, was designed by Spanish studio Mut Design and introduced in 2012 by Enticdesigns, based in Valencia, Spain.
“The Drops collection caused a stir in the industry because it was one of the first reworkings that gave a twist to the classic patterns and rigid layout that characterize this type of flooring,” Mut Design founder Alberto Sánchez says. While a certain type of cement tile has traditionally featured geometric patterns, Drops offers something new by enabling the creation of a random design.
“We believe this is something that hasn’t been done before,” Sánchez says. “The cement tile has tended to have a rigid layout, with a single tile from which homogenous designs and patterns are obtained. As well as a beautiful design, we were looking for something more, which is why we designed an open layout system based on four tiles with certain variations, which allow us to play with the pattern and create different rhythms across spaces.” That approach is reflected in this kitchen floor.
“This open layout allows the user to be part of the design process and come up with the final arrangement they’re looking for,” Sánchez says.
“We believe this is something that hasn’t been done before,” Sánchez says. “The cement tile has tended to have a rigid layout, with a single tile from which homogenous designs and patterns are obtained. As well as a beautiful design, we were looking for something more, which is why we designed an open layout system based on four tiles with certain variations, which allow us to play with the pattern and create different rhythms across spaces.” That approach is reflected in this kitchen floor.
“This open layout allows the user to be part of the design process and come up with the final arrangement they’re looking for,” Sánchez says.
The same idea has been applied to the more geometrical Keidos collection (pictured), also manufactured by Enticdesigns.
Founded by María-Eugenia Rubio in 2005, Enticdesigns manufactures its tiles in association with a workshop in Córdoba, Spain, that benefits from four generations of know-how in the field. “Cement tiles offer something other materials don’t, and that’s the fact that they age really well,” Rubio says. “They acquire this gorgeous patina over time, which, together with the fact that handmade processes are starting to be appreciated again, is helping to bring this type of covering back into fashion.”
“The market is very demanding right now, which is why we’re always looking to set ourselves apart with our designs, whether it’s through the colors or the patterns we use,” says Sánchez, explaining Mut Design’s philosophy. “The work we do for Enticdesigns involves coming up with something new and different, far removed from what we’re used to seeing in cement tiles.”
Founded by María-Eugenia Rubio in 2005, Enticdesigns manufactures its tiles in association with a workshop in Córdoba, Spain, that benefits from four generations of know-how in the field. “Cement tiles offer something other materials don’t, and that’s the fact that they age really well,” Rubio says. “They acquire this gorgeous patina over time, which, together with the fact that handmade processes are starting to be appreciated again, is helping to bring this type of covering back into fashion.”
“The market is very demanding right now, which is why we’re always looking to set ourselves apart with our designs, whether it’s through the colors or the patterns we use,” says Sánchez, explaining Mut Design’s philosophy. “The work we do for Enticdesigns involves coming up with something new and different, far removed from what we’re used to seeing in cement tiles.”
This Barcelona apartment, designed by CaSA — Colombo and Serboli Architecture, features a tile design by Zelart. The colors of the tile have been customized to tie in with the rest of the house. “This is one of the biggest assets of cement tiles,” Rubio says. “They’re handmade, which means the colors in the pattern can be customized.”
“The updating of cement tile patterns only increases the possible applications of this kind of covering and its target market,” says Matteo Colombo of CaSA. “It’s a material that can be used in new ways and as part of contemporary projects involving the laying of a new floor. You can see that with the Tyche apartment [pictured], where we opted to show that it’s not an original floor. If we hadn’t, it would have looked a little fake. When we lay a new floor, we prefer people to see that it’s a contemporary material rather than create a false history behind it.”
“Cement tiles don’t lose any of their identity with these new designs,” says CaSA’s Andrea Serboli. “In fact, the patterns open up a whole new avenue of possibilities. Every material has a development curve, and it’s our belief that new tile designs will age just as well as traditional ones.”
Take a tour of the Tyche apartment here
“The updating of cement tile patterns only increases the possible applications of this kind of covering and its target market,” says Matteo Colombo of CaSA. “It’s a material that can be used in new ways and as part of contemporary projects involving the laying of a new floor. You can see that with the Tyche apartment [pictured], where we opted to show that it’s not an original floor. If we hadn’t, it would have looked a little fake. When we lay a new floor, we prefer people to see that it’s a contemporary material rather than create a false history behind it.”
“Cement tiles don’t lose any of their identity with these new designs,” says CaSA’s Andrea Serboli. “In fact, the patterns open up a whole new avenue of possibilities. Every material has a development curve, and it’s our belief that new tile designs will age just as well as traditional ones.”
Take a tour of the Tyche apartment here
“As in other parts of Europe, cement tiles were very popular in Sweden around 100 years ago, and were most commonly used in lobbies, corridors, schools, theaters and the like,” says Per Anders Ovin. He founded Swedish company Marrakech Design with his wife, Inga-Lill, in 2006, naming the company after the city in Morocco that inspired its creation. “Where you didn’t see cement tiles very often was in homes, where we tended to go for wood. They then fell into oblivion until about five to 10 years ago.
“We believe the change is due to an international trend, the increased demand for unique and personalized projects, the revival of all things vintage and the growing interest in geometrical patterns, all in response to the minimalism that was so prevalent before,” he says. “The tiles are handmade, they can be customized, they are beautiful in themselves and they acquire a lovely patina over time. All these things combine to make them a much more interesting material than others that might be more modern but don’t age as well.”
Except for bathrooms, however, this type of tile in Sweden continues to be used primarily for nonresidential projects.
“We believe the change is due to an international trend, the increased demand for unique and personalized projects, the revival of all things vintage and the growing interest in geometrical patterns, all in response to the minimalism that was so prevalent before,” he says. “The tiles are handmade, they can be customized, they are beautiful in themselves and they acquire a lovely patina over time. All these things combine to make them a much more interesting material than others that might be more modern but don’t age as well.”
Except for bathrooms, however, this type of tile in Sweden continues to be used primarily for nonresidential projects.
Per explains that the tiles are normally used not to lend a Mediterranean touch to a room but rather to create a striking ambience, as in this bedroom, which features the Dandelion tile by celebrated Swedish firm Claesson Koivisto Rune.
He says this revamped style “is a natural development for this type of covering. If you look back at traditional tile designs, there are a lot of geometrical patterns. All these new designs are doing is taking another step forward.”
The Ovins have built a close relationship with fellow cement tile brand Popham Design, founded in 2007 by American couple Caitlin and Samuel Dowe-Sandes in Marrakech. “We manufacture some of each other’s products, and we even represent them and market their products in Sweden,” Per says.
He says this revamped style “is a natural development for this type of covering. If you look back at traditional tile designs, there are a lot of geometrical patterns. All these new designs are doing is taking another step forward.”
The Ovins have built a close relationship with fellow cement tile brand Popham Design, founded in 2007 by American couple Caitlin and Samuel Dowe-Sandes in Marrakech. “We manufacture some of each other’s products, and we even represent them and market their products in Sweden,” Per says.
“In the U.S., our relationship with this type of flooring doesn’t go as far back as Europe’s does. I think the boom it’s enjoying now comes down to a greater appreciation for authentic, handmade products. You can’t compare the way a cement tile feels and looks with a factory-produced product, and it’s not easy to confuse the two either,” Caitlin says.
“As for its design, American people feel it’s an influence that comes from exotic places, such as Morocco, and has to be filtered so it fits in with their lifestyle,” she says. “That’s the concept behind Popham Design: mixing a traditional technique and preserving a craft, while bringing the product up to date with more contemporary patterns and colors.
“Our patterns, which are modern in style and not at all traditional, are normally used by architects and interior designers to lend character to a space. They’re placed on walls and floors in much the same way as wallpaper or a large rug, to give character and a fresh dimension to a room. The fact that the colors in our patterns can be totally customized gives designers and architects the chance to add decorative elements to a project that are unique.
“Our patterns, which are modern in style and not at all traditional, are normally used by architects and interior designers to lend character to a space. They’re placed on walls and floors in much the same way as wallpaper or a large rug, to give character and a fresh dimension to a room. The fact that the colors in our patterns can be totally customized gives designers and architects the chance to add decorative elements to a project that are unique.
“As I said before, the boom in cement tiles is partly due to an increased appreciation of handmade products,” Caitlin continues. “The craftspeople who make our tiles have years of experience, and they’re very proud of what they do. I think you can see that in the finished product. At the same time, there’s a global shift toward geometrical designs and daring colors. Our tiles fuse both, and lend a unique touch and a lot of character to the spaces in which they’re laid.
“We love traditional cement tiles, so we’d never say the modern ones are better than the old ones,” she says. “Design is something that evolves, and often the best products are the ones that combine know-how and techniques from the past with new ideas and technologies. The patterns we’ve been seeing in the cement tile industry in the last few years are helping more people get to know this type of covering, which also helps keep the tradition alive.”
“We love traditional cement tiles, so we’d never say the modern ones are better than the old ones,” she says. “Design is something that evolves, and often the best products are the ones that combine know-how and techniques from the past with new ideas and technologies. The patterns we’ve been seeing in the cement tile industry in the last few years are helping more people get to know this type of covering, which also helps keep the tradition alive.”
Alexander Kolganov and Schepenok Eugene of Russian interior design studio Model_Bananova invariably include cement tiles in their projects. The tiles lining the backsplash and column in this kitchen are made by Spanish manufacturer Mosaic del Sur.
Cement tiles are also seen in Russia as having a Moroccan influence, with the North African country having started producing them after France and Spain. “Although they’re normally used in projects with a Mediterranean feel, they’re also starting to feature in more contemporary interiors,” Kolganov says. “Popham Design might be a new company, but it’s one of the ones that stand out most, and we feel its pieces are a long way from being traditional. It’s one of our favorites, along with French company Carocim and Malaga-based Mosaic del Sur.”
Cement tiles are also seen in Russia as having a Moroccan influence, with the North African country having started producing them after France and Spain. “Although they’re normally used in projects with a Mediterranean feel, they’re also starting to feature in more contemporary interiors,” Kolganov says. “Popham Design might be a new company, but it’s one of the ones that stand out most, and we feel its pieces are a long way from being traditional. It’s one of our favorites, along with French company Carocim and Malaga-based Mosaic del Sur.”
In Germany, meanwhile, cement tiles have been used since the days of Art Nouveau and proved very popular at the start of the 20th century. One of the country’s best-known manufacturers of this type of covering is Via.
“We work with designers, and I also create patterns for our cement tiles,” says Almut Lager, who runs the company. “At Via, we have a fascination for the old designs, especially those from the Art Nouveau era. Cement tiles are wonderful and work very well with so many patterns, including new ones. Old designs are more classical and are an excellent solution in the long term, as we’ve seen over the years. What we don’t yet know is how these new designs will age.”
“We work with designers, and I also create patterns for our cement tiles,” says Almut Lager, who runs the company. “At Via, we have a fascination for the old designs, especially those from the Art Nouveau era. Cement tiles are wonderful and work very well with so many patterns, including new ones. Old designs are more classical and are an excellent solution in the long term, as we’ve seen over the years. What we don’t yet know is how these new designs will age.”
Underpinned by cement tile enthusiasts around the world, the trend has now been picked up by major manufacturers. In 2015, Italian firm Bisazza, which specializes in glass mosaics, launched a collection of cement tiles, embracing a new material in the process and embarking on a new phase in its development.
In doing so, the firm called on a roster of top designers, namely Tom Dixon, India Mahdavi, Paola Navone, Carlo Dal Bianco and Jaime Hayon, the man behind the tile design shown here.
In doing so, the firm called on a roster of top designers, namely Tom Dixon, India Mahdavi, Paola Navone, Carlo Dal Bianco and Jaime Hayon, the man behind the tile design shown here.
What’s so distinctive about Jaime Hayon’s designs are the endless combinations offered by the arrangement of the tiles. They create a rich array of textures and eye-catching geometrical figures, which seem to go on forever and convey a sense of movement and continuity between different spaces.
In contrast, Tom Dixon’s patterns are much more urban and Pop Art in nature, as is usually the case with the British designer. “With this collection, we’ve tried to offer a contemporary and sophisticated take on traditional cement tiles, combining the attributes of modern design with the appeal of a handmade product,” says Rosella Bisazza, daughter of the firm’s founder and its communications director.
“Although cement tiles use a very different language from glass mosaics, we have looked for a way of tying them in with the Bisazza style,” she adds. This design is by Paola Navone, whose designs are the most playful of the collection.
Another major name that has just moved into the cement tile market is Peronda, one of Spain’s largest manufacturers of ceramic tiling. The tile pictured here is Roll, from the Harmony collection, designed by the studio Dsignio and launched at the end of 2015. It’s a truly intelligent design.
“The entire floor in this space is formed by a single hexagonal piece that’s rotated and positioned in different ways,” says Patxi Cotarelo of Dsignio. “In terms of the layout, the possibilities are endless — some of them more ordered and formal in style, some more chaotic and fun.”
“The entire floor in this space is formed by a single hexagonal piece that’s rotated and positioned in different ways,” says Patxi Cotarelo of Dsignio. “In terms of the layout, the possibilities are endless — some of them more ordered and formal in style, some more chaotic and fun.”
As a result of the cement tile boom, some companies specializing in ceramic tile, such as Peronda and Porcelanosa, have started to market ceramic tiles with patterns inspired by cement tile designs. The tiles pictured here are part of the FS collection by Francisco Segarra for Peronda. Generally speaking, they have an aged, worn patina and retro patterns.
Besides being composed of different materials, ceramic tile and the less-glossy cement tile differ in how they are made. Ceramic tiles are factory-made, while cement tiles are, as we have seen, produced by hand.
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Four Rooms With Black and White Tile Style
Browse photos of cement tile designs on Houzz
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Four Rooms With Black and White Tile Style
Browse photos of cement tile designs on Houzz
Cement tiles are made by hand, which helps to explain why they’re so appreciated. The process of making them has remained unchanged for more than 100 years.
It was in the mid-19th century when the technique for making the tiles was developed in the south of France, based on the British patent for Portland cement. The first manufacturers to produce registered collections hailed from Catalonia, Spain.