Bruzzesi 7 Studios: when porcelain stoneware tiles create a kaleidoscope of colours

Designed by CBArchitects - Christian Bianco, the Seven Studios complex results from converting a semi-basement, which was initially used as a warehouse, into mini apartments. This project, runner-up in the residential buildings category of the Grand Prix international architecture contest, stands out for the variety of colours that brighten up the floors and walls of each apartment. The porcelain stoneware tiles from Casalgrande Padana’s R-Evolution collection create a kaleidoscope of pastel shades of blue, green, and pink that blend with the colours of the furnishings, fabrics, and walls, creating a beautiful play of contrast.

A glazed door at the entrance opens to an irregular wood-panelled space that leads to 7 mini apartments for rent, each featuring a different colour. The wood panelling is like a second skin detached from the masonry. Embedded lights at the top and bottom make it look as if it were floating between the floor and the suspended ceiling. The zebrawood wall panelling, white suspended ceiling, and 90x180 cm Marmoker Statuario Grigio floor tiles with polished finish enhance the contrast between vertical and horizontal spaces. The brightly coloured front doors of the seven mini apartments hint at the role colour plays inside.

Each apartment features a colour palette structured as follows: a neutral colour for the floors, which is the same for all apartments; a secondary colour used to create a rug effect in the dining room and bathroom; and an accent colour for the door, walls, and suspended ceiling in the kitchen. In particular, the neutral flooring is created using 60x60 cm R-Evolution Sand tiles, while the Terra, Blue, Light Pink, Green, Dark Grey, and Azure shades create the rug effect in the dining area. The colours of the “rug effect” tiling are echoed in the bathrooms and kitchens, creating an elegant contrast with the accent colours of each apartment’s front doors, walls and suspended ceiling in the dining area. The same contrast is echoed in the tiles’ grout lines. The colour palette is completed by the furnishings, chairs, sofas, and upholstery, with tone-on-tone or contrasting combinations.

Colour can be calming and relaxing, cosy and intimate, energising and invigorating. It can purify or liven up a space or make it cosier and more cheerful.

The R-Evolution porcelain stoneware tile collection by Casalgrande Padana stands out for its texture and classic cement-inspired shades associated with soft colours that further expand its scope of application.

The Marmoker collection replicates marble’s veining, shine, and beautiful colour effects, making every tile truly unique. Marmoker’s first-class technical features and vast selection of colours, formats, and finishes make it the best choice to add a luxurious and elegant touch to the floors and walls of any setting.

Casalgrande Padana porcelain stoneware tiles are made solely with natural raw materials. They are durable, non-absorbent, and don’t fear temperature fluctuations, frost, and weather agents. Moreover, they never warp, and their extraordinary mechanical strength makes them maintain their characteristics unchanged over time. But there’s more. They are UV-resistant and, thanks to the Bios Antibacterial® technology (available upon request), they are also antibacterial and can even prevent mould, yeasts, and odours in any setting.

@CBA, Fabio Coppi