At the Milan Design Week 2013, Lea Ceramiche inaugurates the new collaboration with Effegibi, a manufacturer of saunas and steam rooms for residential homes and public venues.
At Lea Ceramiche’s showroom, in via Durini 3, the concept of the exhibition, designed by Diego Grandi, is inspired by the tradition of the Turkish bath and reclaims some architectural and iconographic aspects of this ancient ritual that attends to the body’s well being.
In the middle of the ground floor, Logica Hammam Effegibi combines, in a single product, the two functions of shower and Turkish bath, merging tradition and innovation thanks to the design of the interior elements that are covered with Slimtech by Lea Ceramiche. The oversized laminate stoneware slab, which is ulltralight and only 3 mm thick, is the leitmotif for the whole staging.
On the left, a pair of arches, covered by Slimtech perfectly cropped cutout, gives an overview of the architectural element that was the archetype of the Ottoman tradition. On the opposite wall, the pattern refers to the peshtamal – the woven cotton cloth with the characteristic design traditionally used inside Turkish wellness centres. As designer Diego Grandi, author of the project, said: "By updating proportions and colours, Slimtech Bebek reinterprets a traditional Ottoman fabric to evoke the hammam. Using colours and transparent lines, the digital printing goes beyond the two-dimensionality of the ceramic creating effects typical of textile weave; Bebek is a tribute to Istanbul: in fact the name derives from a district in the Turkish capital."
The new collection is produced using the new cold digital printing technology. This advanced technology allows printing of any image on laminate stoneware with high definition and colour results of the highest quality. Furthermore, using this technology, even small quantities of custom designed surfaces can be created. Speed of execution, high definition photo output, broad customization, and finally the use of inks instead of enamels consent to obtain amazing results with precise definition of details.
A further reference to the Middle Eastern culture is articulated in the Slimtech Gouache.10 collection, which was also designed by Grandi, and uses of the triangular matrix of the Libeccio decoration, which covers the exterior of the Effegibi’s hammam. Even in this case, the thin slab covers with mosaic the exterior of the hammam while the large slabs cover the interior furnishings, highlighting the cross-use of ceramic products, which are not exclusively employed as traditional wall and floor coverings but are also used in the architecture and furniture sectors. The geometric pattern of the hammam’s exterior becomes a "ceramic carpet" and includes a small relaxing lounge in the window area. The large triangular modules of Slimtech Mauk Esa are proposed in elegant northern shades while chairs and accessories complete the staging.
Relaxation areas embellish the space in via Durini, both in the underground level and in the courtyard adjacent to the showroom; the walls, covered with Slimtech Bebek, and the architectural element of the arches frame the two interiors. The digital pattern is repeated and characterizes the tables in the outdoor courtyard. Lampshades and suspended lamps by Servomuto underline once again the blend of tradition and modernity. The creative duo from Salento designed these amazing creations for this installation, evoking, with the use of digital printing and cut shapes, the geometry of the Slimtech collections that are showcased here.
