Urban ceramics, a trend in intelligent cities

Air-purifying facades, non-slip pedestrian crossings that require no maintenance, corks that prevent unevenness on sidewalks or heated canopies… all this is possible in cities thanks to ceramics.

Because of its resistance, its aesthetics, its versatility… urban ceramics has become a trend for architects who design intelligent cities. Urban spaces that, in addition to being functional, are beautiful and welcoming.

Urban space is very demanding, due to regulations and climate. Furthermore, bearing in mind that in 2030 five billion people – 60% of the world’s population – will live in cities, it is a pressing need to plan cities that will make our lives easier and more enjoyable. We’re going to be many, so let’s project friendly urban environments.

The ceramic industry has adapted its product to the growing needs of urban spaces and offers greater diversity of formats, thicknesses and properties than some natural materials such as stone or marble.

The urban use of ceramics

One example is the use of ceramics in cities to create a rainwater drainage system, as well as ceramic tables and benches in parks and gardens, large murals printed on ceramic material that decorate walls, signage for commercial establishments, urban signage…

Vila-real, in Castellón (Spain), is one of the most important ceramic producing nuclei in the world and uses its urban space as a gigantic laboratory of innovation in the use of ceramics for cities. In the square of La Mayorazga we find this fountain with tens of meters of porcelain stoneware covering resistant to climatic adversities, since the absence of porosity in the material avoids the absorption of moisture. In addition to the material’s hardness, which guarantees a good state of the installation over time, its aesthetic value is added. The Rainbow Series is a porcelain stoneware material in square format (15×15) that offers a diversity of layouts and chromatic combinations. Colors are essential to create positive experiences in urban environments that, in intelligent cities, fill with color and move away from concrete.

The urban use of ceramics is a worldwide architectural trend that helps us build emotional cities adapted to the needs of their inhabitants. Smart cities are the cities of the future.