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Florim and Matteo Thun Unveil SensiVenezia Terrazzo Porcelain Surfaces

A new architectural collection translates Venetian heritage into large-format stoneware slabs.

1Collaborative Architectural Surface Design

Florim has expanded its material narrative with SensiVenezia, a tactile porcelain stoneware collection created alongside architects Matteo Thun and Benedetto Fasciana. The project translates Venice's historic textures and visual memories into contemporary architectural surfaces, building directly upon the brand's earlier sensory collections, Sensi and SensiTerre.

2Inspiration Drawn from Scarpa

The collection channels the compositional sensitivity of iconic Italian architect Carlo Scarpa across twelve nuanced color tones. Rooted in Italy's regional material culture, the design pairs technical porcelain manufacturing precision with historic craft traditions, establishing sensory experience as the core guiding principle for modern interior architecture.

3Twelve Distinct Venetian Palettes

SensiVenezia features twelve distinct earthy colorways named after iconic Venetian landmarks, such as Arsenale, Fenice, Rialto, and Giudecca. The chromatic palette draws inspiration from historic architecture, urban canals, and the lagoon landscape, translating regional urban identities directly into sophisticated architectural interior finishes.

4Dual Finish Tactical Depth

The porcelain surfaces are produced in two contrasting tactile finishes to suit different spatial requirements. A uniform matte finish delivers visual continuity across installations, while a soft finish introduces tactile depth using subtle marble and glass highlights that capture dynamic ambient light across modern spaces.

5Engineered Slab Formats and Thicknesses

Designed for residential, hospitality, and commercial applications, the collection comes in standard 9 mm and heavy-duty 20 mm thicknesses. Slabs reach large-format dimensions up to 120×120 cm alongside modular tile sizes, intentionally minimizing joint lines to generate seamless, continuous spatial planes.

6Aggregate Variations and Terrazzo Rhythm

Underneath the surface, a porphyry-effect porcelain body integrates fine, medium, and large aggregate compositions. These layered stone fragments feature subtle opalescent points that catch incoming light, echoing time-worn natural stone while allowing architects to select between dense layouts and highly expressive terrazzo graphics.

7Geometric Scacchiera Decorative Layouts

To complement the flat architectural slabs, the series includes Scacchiera, a mesh-mounted 30×30 cm decorative element. Its geometric grid forms a structured textile-like pattern, expanding creative options for specifiers seeking tactile feature walls and accent floors within high-traffic public or residential spatial schemes.

8Modernizing Heritage Craft Traditions

SensiVenezia exemplifies how contemporary surface manufacturing can preserve regional material identity without relying on literal imitation. By combining advanced stoneware engineering with traditional Venetian terrazzo composition, Florim and Thun provide durable, large-scale design solutions tailored to demanding modern architectural projects.

Original article: design archives | designboom | architecture & design magazine — Florim and Matteo Thun Unveil SensiVenezia Terrazzo Porcelain Surfaces