Cersaie 2025: a platform for showcasing new surfaces

For years, Cersaie in Bologna has been regarded as an indicator of developments in surfaces, ceramics, and bathroom design. However, with its restructuring in 2025, the focus is shifting: the trade fair will offer a more immersive experience, where materials will be displayed and negotiated as part of architectural scenarios. 

The newly designed entrance with large-format image surfaces turns arrival itself into an architectural experience. Transitions between the city and the exhibition centre are staged, emphasising that architecture is not infrastructure, but rather the conscious creation of thresholds.

The restructuring of the exhibition grounds is not just an organisational measure; it is also driven by curatorial logic. In Halls 31 and 32, surfaces such as wood and marble are given their own stage, thus entering into a conscious dialogue with ceramics. In future, technology and installations will be concentrated in Hall 19, visibly anchoring construction practice at the heart of the site. The site is thus transformed into a material atlas that juxtaposes products and makes their cultural and functional relationships tangible.

Cersaie 2024 © privat

The restructuring of the exhibition grounds is not just an organisational measure; it is also driven by curatorial logic. In Halls 31 and 32, surfaces such as wood and marble are given their own stage, thus entering into a conscious dialogue with ceramics. In future, technology and installations will be concentrated in Hall 19, visibly anchoring construction practice at the heart of the site. The site is thus transformed into a material atlas that juxtaposes products and makes their cultural and functional relationships tangible.

Decoratori Bassanesi is presenting the new Quadrille collection by Clara von Zweigbergk. © Andrea Olivo 

For architects, this means that materials are no longer considered merely as surface options, but as active participants in the design process. They influence atmospheres, facilitate transitions and convey cultural meanings – all of which have a direct impact on planning practice. NG