A new edition of the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings is coming up. The 42nd edition will be held from 22 to 26 September in Bologna: five days dedicated to innovation and products, but also to networking and training. The latest innovations in terms of surfaces, bathroom furnishings and architectural finishes can be found here, thanks to an ever-growing number of exhibitors, reaching around 600 spread over an area of 150,000 square metres. An important new development in terms of products is the introduction of new product categories in pavilions 31 and 32, including wood and marble, and interior and exterior finishes. The completely redesigned pavilion 19 has also been expanded and is dedicated to the world of installation and events for the sector.
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This year’s edition emphasises the link with the world of architecture, starting with its Manifesto, entitled ‘A space for architectural design‘: an image that reinforces the idea of architectural space. It continues with a wide range of events and guests that underline the importance of responsible and integrated design of interior and exterior environments – long a focus of the trade fair.
One of the most eagerly awaited events is the series of conferences entitled ‘Building, Living, Thinking‘, which every year brings leading figures in international design to Bologna. In 2025, the guest of honour will be Elizabeth Diller, partner at Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS + R), who will give the keynote lecture on Tuesday 23rd September.
Another prominent figure at the conferences will be Ángela García de Paredes, co-founder of the Paredes Pedrosa Arquitectos studio, who on Thursday 25 September will present her vision of architecture as a critical interpretation of time and space. Alongside the major lectures, the Café della Stampa informal conversations will also return, now in their tenth year. Eighteen events in five days, each dedicated to a key theme of contemporary living: from workspaces to well-being, from urban regeneration to buildings of knowledge and new forms of shared living. An opportunity for publishers, journalists and designers to engage in dialogue, transforming the exhibition into a place where criticism and current affairs intertwine with design.
In this context, IFDM will be the protagonist of the event on Wednesday 24th (4 pm) in conversation with architect Andrea Boschetti on the theme “Ceramics for the city of the future and new living spaces“: a reflection on the revolutionary potential of ceramics in the construction of a new urbanity and the redefinition of spaces.
The reflection does not stop at the pavilions but continues in the city. With BOLD – Bologna Live Design, the historic centre is transformed into a veritable open-air laboratory. Installations, workshops and performances throughout the city multiply the opportunities for discussion on the theme “What if…“: an invitation to imagine new scenarios, to use design as a tool for social and cultural change. A multidisciplinary approach that amplifies the impact of the fair, bringing it to the squares, courtyards and streets of Bologna.
