Inspiration from Italian ceramic and tile push architects and designers to submit their best ideas

Each year, the Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition – hosted by Confindustria Ceramica and the Italian Trade Agency – recognizes the outstanding work of North American architects, designers and students who create imaginative spaces using Italian ceramic and porcelain tile. Now in its 26th year, the 2019 Tile Competition is accepting entries in three built categories – residential, commercial and institutional – and one student category. 

Architects and designers are invited to submit their projects that utilize Italian ceramic tiles in an aesthetically beautiful, original, and functional way. Past winners include leading industry names such as Gensler, Cooper Carry, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Studio Libeskind, and more. 

In the three built categories, projects can be domestic or international but must be designed by North America-based architects and designers, built or renovated between January 2014 and January 2019, and feature a significant amount of Italian ceramic or porcelain tile produced by Ceramics of Italy member companies. All styles and scales of projects will be considered – from multi-family housing and hospitality projects to outdoor spaces and façades. The jury’s official criteria includes: overall design of the project; aesthetic and technical quality of tile installation; degree to which the tile enhances the setting; and the project’s sustainable attribute.

In addition to valuable PR and exposure surrounding the competition, winners are awarded a prize package that includes $3,000 cash, an all-expenses paid trip to Orlando, FL for Coverings to present their project, plus a 5-day CEU- accredited trip to Bologna, Italy to attend Cersaie – the world’s largest exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings – with a delegation of top design media.

An additional $1,000 will be awarded to the contractor/distributor team involved in each winning project. The winning student entry will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Orlando to present their project in front of a large audience of media, manufacturers and tile industry professionals at Coverings 2019. 

For further competition details, visit tilecompetition.com.  The deadline to enter is February 1, 2019.