Porcelain stoneware meets the essence of concrete: Mūra by Ariostea
Inspired by the artistic movements of the 1950s, the new project by the Italian brand reflects an ongoing commitment to experimentation, revealed through three refined color shades and a comprehensive range of formats.
Large concrete-like volumes, extended surfaces that echo the sculptural language of the 1950s – from Constructivism to the New American and British Sculpture movements – where cement and iron rods played a central role. With Mūra, presented on the occasion of the latest Cersaie in Bologna, Ariostea reinterprets the expressive strength of construction materials through the refined precision of porcelain stoneware. The project softens the raw power of architectural matter, translating it into a contemporary language, balanced and elegant.
This operation is not new for the Emilia-Romagna-based company, which, since its birth in 1961, has strengthened its commitment to representing not only Italian excellence but also a distinct spirit of innovation and transformation. Ariostea has long explored the intersection of aesthetics and technology, experimenting with matter and surface to create a unique vision of industrial craftsmanship – one inspired by the precision of Italian technique and the authenticity of nature. The company’s continuous innovation in production processes is aimed at creating materials that excel in beauty, quality, and versatility.
Gallery
Open full width
Open full width
This foundational vision is more than rhetoric. Ariostea pursues a process rooted in the primordial elements of water, earth and fire, defining a poetic reference that reflects a rigorous production philosophy. That process enables surfaces engineered to excel not only in aesthetics but in mechanical and chemical durability. In other words, the look of natural material is paired with the performance of advanced ceramics.
But there’s a cultural layer too. The brand has built its reputation through collaboration with architects and designers worldwide, offering the material intelligence and support to realize ambitious architectural visions. Whether for high-end facades, floating floors, or large scale clusters of slabs, each project becomes an articulation of surface system thinking – not just tile by tile, but slab as context.
Sustainability is likewise a keystone. Operating within the Iris Ceramica Group, Ariostea commits to resource-efficient production, rigorous environmental certifications, and a long-term view of the life cycle of the material. The result is a brand that positions its ceramic surfaces as both design-driven and responsively built for the present and future.
When a new reference steps into the light, it appears as an evolution of that legacy. It extends the brand’s core values – technological mastery, material honesty, design flexibility – into new formats, patterns and palettes. It invites architects and designers to engage surfaces not as backdrop but as protagonists – where continuity, scale and sensory impact matter. In doing so, the brand reaffirms its place among the few that genuinely merge industrial craft and architectural ambition, and the result are surfaces with exceptional resistance to mechanical and chemical stress, designed to maintain their integrity and beauty over time.
Porcelain stoneware, often perceived as a discreet or minimal material, is in fact the outcome of an advanced process where technology and sustainability meet, with the purpose of blending into the architecture as a true and living part of it. That’s why Mūra evolves within this framework, merging the tactile uniqueness of nature with the bold, contemporary character of concrete. Its three chromatic variations and multiple formats allow for versatile combinations and layered textural effects, enriching both visual and sensory experience. This project is pure experimentation – a bridge between brutalist art and everyday architecture.
The palette reveals three distinct personalities. Lunara, the lightest tone, evokes the soft gradient of the Moon’s surface, diffusing a quiet, suspended atmosphere. Ramia expresses warmth and depth, a vibrant, most earthy tone that remains within the concrete spectrum yet conveys comfort and presence. Sankira, the purest essence of concrete, is a cool grey shade that captures and transforms light, turning industrial rigor into a poetic gesture.
Ariostea’s design philosophy emerges clearly through this dialogue between scale, patterns and function – an integrated system of surfaces conceived for diverse architectural contexts and expressive needs. The range of formats and finishes enhances versatility and creative freedom across all types of spaces.
The Ultra line stands out for its large and very thin slabs, whose generous dimensions and Natural finish highlight the raw purity of cement. Their scale is ideal for floors and wall coverings that require visual continuity and a minimalist aesthetic. Perfect for residential, hospitality, and retail environments, these slabs also lend themselves to custom-designed furniture – from counters and tables to staircases and vanity tops – offering seamless, functional design solutions.
The Classics line reinterprets traditional formats, available in two measures of thickness. The Natural Plus finish softens both the look and the feel of concrete, making it suitable for living areas, bathrooms, and kitchens, as well as offices and public interiors. The Tessura decoration enriches the range with a subtle, graphic texture inspired by the marks left by formwork, recalling the tactile depth and refined irregularity of metallic grey.
For outdoor use, CM2 Outdoor provides a thicker solution with an Antislip finish, ensuring maximum safety and durability. The one square meter format is engineered to withstand heavy loads and continuous stress, suitable for both public and private settings. It can be installed dry on gravel, grass, or sand, laid on screed for drivable surfaces, or used as a raised floor with fixed or adjustable supports. Designed for terraces, pool edges, walkways, gardens, and outdoor dining areas, it creates a natural continuity between interior and exterior spaces.
With Mūra, Ariostea extends its vision of surface design beyond material performance. The project bridges the expressive language of art and architecture, merging industrial precision with aesthetic sensitivity. Each element – from the composition of the porcelain to the subtlety of its finishes – reflects a dedication to balance, experimentation, and lasting beauty. It is a testament to Ariostea’s ongoing dialogue between innovation and nature, matter and meaning, bringing contemporary design back to its essential form.
About the author
Ludovica Proietti, journalist, design historian and curator, teaches in universities and curates events, always exploring projects with fresh, unconventional perspectives.
Instagram
