The Neo-Mineralism according to Cotto d’Este

There is a language that needs no words: the language of matter. Ancient rocks, surfaces marked by time, veins that tell millenary stories. In the contemporary architectural landscape, this primordial voice returns with renewed strength.

Among the trends identified by WGSN for 2025, Neo-Mineralism stands out as one of the most influential. It is a movement that celebrates the expressive power of stone and its ability to restore balance and authenticity to spaces. Not merely an aesthetic trend, but a reflection on matter as the origin of design: a return to essence, to the natural purity of the element, and to its relationship with the landscape.

Neo-Mineralism is based on a precise architectural idea: one where material does not decorate but structures; where the surface becomes an integral part of the constructive language. Stones that breathe, surfaces that interact with their context, thicknesses and textures that define the perception of space.

Surfaces that express a global trend

In this context, Cotto d’Este interprets Neo-Mineralism as the architectural language of the present. Its stone-effect porcelain stoneware surfaces do not imitate nature, but translate it into a pure and precise form, through a perfect balance of innovation, aesthetics, and Italian design culture.

The collections by Cotto d’Este thus represent different nuances of the same material poetry: from the warm and authentic character of Limestone to the graphic strength of Lithos, from the sophisticated depth of Secret Stone to the vibrant composition of Blend Stone.

A journey that today finds its most mature expression in Solaris, the brand's latest creation, unveiled at Cersaie 2025.

Solaris: the new frontier of Neo-Mineralism

Solaris marks a significant milestone in Cotto d’Este’s material narrative. Inspired by light, Mediterranean stones, the collection expresses the most contemporary dimension of Neo-Mineralism — defined by balance, lightness, and precision.

The stone-effect porcelain stoneware surfaces stand out for their essential texture, tone-on-tone shades, and tactile softness that evokes a natural sense of continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Presented in a refined palette – Ostuni, Trani, Spalato, and Rodi – and in a wide range of formats and thicknesses, from the large ultra-thin Kerlite slabs to the 20 mm outdoor version, Solaris represents the most evolved synthesis of material, technology, and architecture.

A ceramic stone that captures the soul of the Mediterranean with a contemporary and design-oriented spirit.

Living the material: four projects, four landscapes

From the North Sea to the shores of Lake Lugano, all the way to Australia, the Neo-Mineralism of Cotto d’Este takes shape in architectural works that express a deep harmony between material and landscape. Four collections, four visions of contemporary building.

 

Limestone – Hotel Le Chevalier Bleu, Belgium

In Knokke-Heist, along the coast of the North Sea, Hotel Le Chevalier Bleu reinterprets the concept of hospitality through a sober and material-driven architectural language. The Limestone surfaces, in the Clay tone and Natural 14MM finish, elegantly cover floors and walls, creating coherent, warm, and structured environments.

The collection, inspired by Mediterranean limestone, conveys a sense of calm and continuity, blending comfort with structural rigor. In this project, ceramics become an architectural skin: a presence that flows through the space and enhances its compositional purity — in perfect balance between material and architecture.

Lithos – Villa Tree, Lake Lugano

On the hills of Castagnola, Villa Tree, designed by StudioGest SA, showcases the seamless continuity between architecture and landscape. The Lithos surfaces, in the Desert tone, with Naturale and Bocciardata finishes and in 14 and 20 mm thicknesses, create a visual and material continuum between indoors and outdoors.

The graphic appearance, inspired by the rarest marbles, combines strength and lightness, generating a spatial perception where ceramic stone becomes both a structural and poetic element.

A home that communicates with its surroundings through material, showing how porcelain stoneware can define the architectural identity of a building without sacrificing elegance.

Secret Stone – Private residence, Australia

In Melbourne, a private residence designed by Mos Architects interprets Neo-Mineralism with sobriety and intensity. The Secret Stone surfaces, inspired by an ancient and imaginary stone, cover floors and outdoor areas with dense and refined materiality, creating continuity between home and landscape.

The collection stands out for the depth of its texture and its ability to dialogue with the surrounding natural environment, transforming porcelain stoneware into a true architectural element.

A project that shows how ceramic material can become landscape, unifying built space and open space into a single narrative.

Blend Stone – Private villa, Australia

Also in Australia, a contemporary villa uses Blend Stone – in the Light variant, Naturale finish, and 14 mm thickness – to clad the poolside area. The collection blends inspiration from different natural stones – limestone, piasentina, and slate – creating a composite and vibrant material. The result is a surface with a bold and sophisticated character, ideal for outdoor spaces that require technical durability and aesthetic value.

In this context, Blend Stone represents the essence of Neo-Mineralism: a contemporary stone born from fusion, able to reinterpret tradition through an architectural and sustainable lens.

Cotto d’Este: the authentic beauty of matter

In a time that is rediscovering the value of substance, Cotto d’Este confirms itself as an interpreter of a new architectural sensitivity: ceramic surfaces that combine authenticity, technology, and vision. Thanks to Protect® technology, permanently integrated into the product, all collections offer 24-hour active antibacterial protection, ensuring healthier, safer, and more durable environments.

Each slab is designed to stand the test of time, fit harmoniously into projects, and express the pure beauty of matter. A refined balance of innovation, aesthetics, and sustainability, where ceramic becomes architecture: solid, elegant, and timeless.

Discover all the collections by Cotto d’Este and let yourself be inspired by their elegance.

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