All the choices we make have an effect on the well-being of the entire planet. So, how do you choose an eco-friendly design for your materials and for the performance that it offers, while also considering technology, energy and looks? All this is possible with eco-friendly porcelain stoneware!
Eco-sustainable architecture and design refer to the widest principles of the cultural approach linked to sustainable architecture, that involves reducing the environmental impact with design and construction work or eco-sustainable renovation and the use of eco-sustainable design materials.
An architectural project is truly eco-sustainable when it has certain characteristic specifications, that include:
- Low impact on the planet’s water and energy resources;
- Use of eco-friendly materials, assessing the environmental impact each one has throughout its life cycle;
- Low level of indoor pollution, thanks to the use of eco-friendly porcelain stoneware and other materials with no harmful or toxic agents;
- Minimalist method and optimisation of dimensions, to achieve maximum efficiency by eliminating the superfluous and reducing the exploitation of the soil and natural resources;
- Assessment of geographical restrictions, to make the most of soil specifications without altering its natural harmony;
- Recycle and reuse, thanks to the use of easily reclaimable eco-sustainable design materials, the adoption of techniques like dry laying or selecting modular structures. Even the disposal of refuse needs be done sustainably;
- Lastly, eco-sustainable architecture and design involve proper and precise energy planning to ensure greater efficiency, thanks to a bio-climatic approach and use of renewable energy.
Eco-friendly porcelain stoneware and other eco-sustainable design materials
The list of elements in a building that could contribute to pollution is long and complex, including glues, paints, wallpapers, furnishings, cleaning products and much more. Sustainable design is part of this with the purpose of reducing the environmental impact through careful and intelligent planning, and a series of materials aimed at creating a greener future.
If the materials are selected on the basis of the environmental impact they have during their life cycle, starting from the choice of raw materials up to the disposal of waste, it is essential that the eco-sustainable design materials are resistant, long-lasting and above all, the result of renewable raw materials and procedures that care for the planet.
One of the symbols of eco-sustainable architecture and design is wood, in so much as it is a long-lasting renewable material that adapts very well to construction. This is followed by cork and hay, that offer excellent thermal-acoustic insulation, but also materials like biocement and micro-perforated brick. Some of the most commonly used natural materials include eco-friendly porcelain stoneware, the green solution accessible to everyone that, from ventilated façades to flooring and cladding offers an eco-sustainable construction and renovation method. The result of a perfect combination of sand, clay and feldspars, cleverly blended using very low-impact energy processes and with a high level of water recycling, porcelain stoneware has become symbolic of Made in Italy quality that cares for the environment and offers exceptional technical and stylish performance. Without doubt, porcelain stoneware is the most eco-friendly solution for anyone looking for a more ethical approach to surface cladding, but that’s not all: elegant, performing, and ideal for any indoor or outdoor environment, we see in the detail the advantages of adopting this product:
- Low impact throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to production, right up to disposal;
- Use of natural and permanently re-usable materials;
- Fully recyclable;
- Extremely long-lasting and resistant to thermal shock, water, fire, impact, abrasion, dust, chemical agents and mould;
- Being naturally formaldehyde, PVC and allergen-free and, above all, capable of preventing the formation of bacteria, it is extremely healthy;
- Considerable financial saving thanks to the eco-sustainable renovation option where there is no need to dismantle anything, but simply lay the porcelain stoneware on pre-existing structures;
- Considerable energy saving;
- An increase in the property’s market value thanks to greater comfort and improved energy efficiency.
Lastly, talking of eco-sustainable architecture and design, it is important to also point out how versatile eco-friendly porcelain stoneware is in managing to combine looks, ethics and practicality. Indeed, this material can impeccably reproduce the veining of natural wood, travertine stripes or the elegance of marble, while significantly reducing the environmental damage and costs linked to these materials. If you are looking for eco-sustainable architecture and design solutions, porcelain stoneware will offer you maximum technical performance and considerable aesthetic quality while fully protecting the planet.
