Florim and Gensler introduce Formatech
Floringthe Italian Ceramics The surface manufacturer has introduced Formatech, a porcelain stoneware collection developed in collaboration with international design firm Gensler. Presented as a flexible design system rather than a decorative product, Formatech reinterprets fundamental materials such as 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 transformation, durability and responsibility in a time when architecture increasingly demands both authenticity and environmental consciousness.
Each tile retains the traces of time, the marks of tools and the patina that reveal lived experiences. Together with Gensler, Florim redefines ceramic surfaces as architectural tools where decoration meets honesty, offering designers a language to create spaces that are both expressive and durable.
Florim and Gensler work for the Formatech | porcelain stoneware collection together All images courtesy of Florim
Redefining ceramic surfaces as architectural instruments
The name Format tech combines “forma,” the Latin root for “appearance” or “figure,” with technology, underscoring its dual focus on aesthetic and technical performance. Rather than imitating surfaces, the collection interprets them, capturing raw materials at specific stages of their life cycle. Concrete, metal and plaster are translated into stoneware that crystallizes their evolution over time and bears the marks, patina and textures that tell of their transformation. This approach emphasizes the honesty of design: not perfection, but authenticity.
As Product design consultantGensler wanted 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 concrete's inclusions and aggregates; Forge, which evokes the chromatic variations of oxidized metal; and Cure, a minimal interpretation of plaster in the curing phase. Available in several formats, from 30×60 cm to 120×280 cm, and in three thicknesses Italian companyThe Formatech collection adapts seamlessly to all applications, from interiors to large architectural projects.
Born from an intensive technical and creative dialogue, the collection explores the natural propensity of matter to change
Florim positions Formatech as a reflection of material truth
Behind the collection is Florim's most advanced decoration technology. Pad printed graphics, digital color applications and three-dimensional materials are layered onto a colored porcelain body, creating surfaces that combine expressive depth with technical durability. When cast, grains embedded in the body interact with the 3D decoration, creating subtle variations in shine and texture. In Forge, nuanced tones replicate the natural aging of metals. These innovations ensure that the surfaces not only appear visually rich, but also maintain the durability required in demanding architectural contexts.
Formatech also embodies Florim's strong commitment to sustainability. The collection is manufactured in facilities powered by 100% self-generated renewable energy and contains up to 60% recycled material. Waste from raw and fire production as well as wastewater is completely recovered and reused. In addition, Formatech is part of Florim's CarbonZero project, which offsets CO₂ emissions throughout the product's life cycle. As a Benefit Corporation and certified B Corp, Florim sees this collection not only as a design innovation, but also as a responsible decision for future-oriented architecture.
The material captures its different phases and crystallizes its development