The editions of the competition

May 18, 2007 salone dei cinquecento palazzo vecchio FIRENZE

Palazzo Vecchio hosted the prize giving ceremony in which Kengo Kuma and Francesco Dal Co will also took part. The 2005-2006 Grand Prix, the international competition of architecture promoted by Casalgrande Padana to award the best constructions created with materials from the Granitogres, Marmogres, Pietre Native and Padana Piscine lines, concluded with a wealth of projects from all over the world. The purpose of this initiative, now being held for the seventh time, is to strengthen and make the most out of the deep ties that have always bound it to the world of designers and planning engineers through a cultural operation that has grown and developed over the years. An authoritative international jury has selected around 180 works from the various different architectural fields, constructions most able to turn to account the expressive potential and technical properties of Casalgrande Padana's porcelain stoneware tiles. The prize giving ceremony will take place on Friday 18 May 2007 in the splendid setting of the Salone dei Cinquecento of Palazzo Vecchio, in Florence. A choice of surroundings that reflects the past ceremonies held in equally impressive places such as Palazzo della Triennale in Milan for the 2000-2002 ceremony and Scuola Grande di S. Giovanni Evangelista in Venice for the one held in 2002-2004. Decisions that also testify to the Casalgrande Padana's sensitivity and attention towards Italy's artistic heritage especially as this time, the company has contributed towards supporting the restorationwork whereby the age-old patina and deposits has been removed from the Vincenzo de' Rossi's "Labours of Hercules" sculptures in the Salone dei Cinquecento in order to restore them to their ancient splendour. The architect Kengo Kuma has also taken part in the ceremony and has illustrated his most recent works, as prof. Francesco Dal Co, who has introduced the Japanese master. Thanks to the participation of these two authoritative personages from the international scene, Casalgrande Padana intends to underscore its interest in the planning sphere to an even greater degree as the culture of design and the culture of production are fundamental reference points for the company's development strategies.