florim & gensler reinterpret matter’s evolution with formatech porcelain stoneware collection
Florim and Gensler introduce Formatech
Florim, the Italian ceramic surfaces manufacturer, has unveiled Formatech, a porcelain stoneware collection developed in collaboration with international design practice Gensler. Presented as a flexible design system rather than a decorative product, Formatech reinterprets foundational materials like concrete, metal, and plaster through advanced technology and sustainable production. Conceived from a dialogue between the company’s industrial expertise and Gensler’s design vision, the collection reflects on transformation, durability, and responsibility at a time when architecture increasingly demands both authenticity and environmental awareness.
Each tile preserves the traces of time, the marks of tools, and the patinas that reveal lived experience. Together with Gensler, Florim redefines ceramic surfaces as architectural instruments where decoration meets honesty, offering designers a language to build spaces that are both expressive and enduring.
Florim and Gensler collaborate for porcelain stoneware collection Formatech | all images courtesy of Florim
redefining ceramic surfaces as architectural instruments
The name Formatech merges ‘forma,’ the Latin root meaning appearance or figure, with technology, underscoring its dual focus on aesthetic and technical performance. Instead of mimicking surfaces, the collection interprets them, capturing raw materials at specific stages of their lifecycle. Concrete, metal, and plaster are translated into stoneware that crystallizes their evolution over time, bearing the marks, patinas, and textures that narrate their transformation. This approach emphasizes design honesty: not perfection, but authenticity.
As product design consultant, Gensler sought to create a tool for architects and designers that balances consistency and versatility. The result is a finely tuned palette available in three finishes: Cast, which channels the inclusions and aggregates of concrete; Forge, evoking the chromatic variations of oxidized metal; and Cure, a minimal take on plaster in its curing stage. Offered in multiple formats, from 30×60 cm to 120×280 cm, and in three thicknesses, the Italian company‘s Formatech collection adapts seamlessly across applications, from interiors to large-scale architectural projects.
emerging from an intense technical and creative dialogue, the collection explores the natural inclination of matter to change
florim positions formatech as a reflection on material truth
Behind the collection lies Florim’s most advanced decorative technology. Pad-printed graphics, digital chromatic applications, and three-dimensional materials are layered onto a colored porcelain body, producing surfaces that combine expressive depth with technical resilience. In the Cast finish, granules embedded in the body interact with the 3D decoration to create subtle variations of gloss and texture. In Forge, nuanced tonalities recreate the natural aging of metals. These innovations ensure that the surfaces not only achieve visual richness but also maintain the durability required in demanding architectural contexts.
Formatech also embodies Florim’s strong commitment to sustainability. Produced in facilities powered by up to 100% self-generated renewable energy, the collection contains up to 60% recycled material. Waste from raw and fired production, along with wastewater, is entirely recovered and reused. Additionally, Formatech is part of Florim’s CarbonZero project, which offsets CO₂ emissions over the product’s full lifecycle. As a Benefit Corporation and certified B Corp, Florim frames this collection not only as a design innovation but also as a responsible choice for future-focused architecture.
the material captures its different phases and crystallizing its evolution
Formatech is a delicate balance between authenticity and innovation, where porcelain stoneware becomes both expressive and functional
the collection stems from the desire to investigate how ceramic surfaces can convey the essence of raw elements such as concrete, metal, and plaster
close-ups show how Formatech restores the formal truth of these raw materials in a dimension that is both accessible and enduring
the result is a collection that interprets three material archetypes, each portrayed at a specific stage of its lifecycle
product design consultant Gensler translated its design needs into a valuable tool for architects and designers
the finely tuned palette defines a consistent style, versatile enough to adapt across multiple applications without losing its identity
Formatech is offered in three distinctive finishes, Cast, Forge, and Cure
available in three thicknesses, Formatech provides flexible solutions through complementary formats
project info:
name: Formatech
company: Florim | @florim_ceramiche
product design consulant: Gensler | @gensler_design
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