Due to their renowned practicality and versatility, Iris Ceramica large format tiles are one of the most sought after tiling products. Especially suitable for projects where superb technical performance is required alongside an elegant aesthetic effect and excellent long-term durability.
Iris Ceramica tiles in Avenue Ivory, Plumb, Amber and Silver were selected for the restoration of the prestigious Seminary and Jesuit Theological Faculty in Naples due to their overall performance.
One of the more recent, archetypal projects for the Campania capital, for over 100 years the San Luigi Pontificia Facoltà Teologica dell’Italia Meridionale - PFTIM (Papal Theological Faculty in Southern Italy) and Pontificio Seminario Campano Interregionale (Papal Interregional Seminary in Campania) have been considered by many Italians as the benchmark for university religious study programs in southern Italy.
Architect Francesco Scardaccione has completed significant renovation and conservation work on the building, constructed between 1910 and 1912. Restoration of the adjacent sixteenth century complex is a work in progress, fully meeting the client’s requirements with technically viable solutions from an architectural, functional and aesthetic point of view. Updating and whenever possible improving the building, the rooms are climatically and technologically comfortable with state-of-the-art facilities.First and foremost, the client wished to convey a sense of renewal, of re-purposing and practicality to create light and airy spaces with architecturally clean lines and simple yet not bland finishes.
To improve the aesthetic effect and unify the flooring, the choice of floor and wall coverings centered on Iris Ceramica maxi tiles.
In particular “the lack of depth available after having consolidated the floors, determined the choice and use of Iris XXL tiles in 3.00 x 1.00 m format and all variations such as 1.50, 1.00, 0.50 etc. with minimum widths of 0.60 cm which have enhanced the entire property due to the tiles’ consummate versatility and superb aesthetic effect”.
All communal rooms and interconnecting areas such as 110 m long corridors, internal piazzas, and large or small classrooms have been tiled with Iris Ceramica tiles.
Great attention has been placed on vertical tiling. The 3.00 x 1.00 m XXL tiles used enable walls to be easily maintained, and marry perfectly with the wooden frames which are a feature in entrances to all areas.
The amalgamation of various materials such as stoneware and wood is therefore characteristic of all areas, demonstrating the perfect combination of two superbly integrated worlds.
From a purely aesthetic point of view Iris ceramic tiles fully meet the client’s requirement for brightness, whilst conferring simple elegance and practicality due to the finish of the materials.
At the same time, the tiles must have excellent technical performance, in terms of being both durable and long-lasting, in view of thousands of people passing through and everyday use by university students.
Durability and strength were therefore paramount when selecting tiles. The 300 x 100 format used for flooring and wall tiling in the Faculty and Seminary corridors, is laid horizontally along the line of the corridors, creating a band on the floor that widens, changes color and rises up the wall to become wall tiling.
A smaller 150 x 100 cm format was selected for the floors used for accommodation in the Seminary and other ancillary rooms, due to layout and installation issues.
Progettisti: Francesco Scardaccione
Concessionario: Spazio Iris Benefit Corporation Napoli
