The specially-imported large-format porcelain tiles that clad the external facade as well as all internal flooring of the Avenues mall has been supplied by Impronta Italgraniti Industrie Ceramiche of Italy, which is currently supplying additional quantities of the stoneware for the phase two extension.

“To date Impronta Italgraniti has supplied 110,000 sq m of true body porcelain stoneware for the Avenues project, while a further 10,000 sq m will be supplied for the extension,” says Giovanni Fontanesi, overseas export manager of Impronta Italgraniti. “The stoneware is created using Almatec, an entirely new, innovative production technology which is the most advanced in the ceramic sector.
“The full-body, deep-grained porcelain super-size format slabs produced with Almatec technology have grain lines, nuanced shades and particle inclusions resembling natural stones. Two colours of Almatec slabs – Marfil Classico and Pietra Piasentina – in the dimension of 60 by 120 cm and with a natural finish, have been used to clad the entire outdoor ventilated façades of the building,” explains Chiara Caiti, a marketing executive for the company.
The façade system was created in cooperation with Impronta Italgraniti’s long-standing partner Aliva, an Italian leader in the area of ventilated facades components and systems. Aliva also provided customer support in terms of analysing the various elements, planning the fixing systems and supplying the structures.
The flooring for the interior areas of the mall features geometric patterns created using Marfil Classico and Pietra Piasentina in two finishes – natural and polished. The geometric pattern was realised by Hydrojet cutting, starting with 60 by 120 cm slabs.
“This gave to the whole project amazing results in terms of aesthetical rendering and project uniformity, both indoors and outdoors. Almatec slabs – which are ideal for public buildings subject to heavy traffic and able to fulfil the strict hygiene requirements of large shopping centres and restaurants – guarantee total resistance to wear and staining, and as such offer extremely easy maintenance and upkeep,” she says.
“The Avenues addresses the latest requirements for projects in terms of energy saving and environment-friendly,” Fontanesi continues. “Ceramic ventilated façades are environmentally sustainable since they reduce heating and cooling energy requirements. The air gap between the main structure and the outer ceramic skin affords ventilation and comfortable temperatures inside the building while true-body porcelain tiles are wind, sand and salt-water resistant. This, in turn, cuts maintenance and operational costs.
“On the production side too, process adjustment has led to less energy consumption, gas emissions, raw material consumption and a greater use of recycled materials and water,” he adds. “In addition, the product meets the project’s requirements for quality and aesthetics, without damaging the landscaping/environment by opening up new quarries of rare natural stones.”
This project demonstrates Impronta Italgraniti’s ability to guarantee top-quality products as well as outstanding support for customers and designers along with a level of service that satisfies the high expectations of the Gulf market, Caiti points out.
Impronta Italgraniti produces glazed and unglazed porcelain floor tiles and single-fired white body wall tiles, and markets them worldwide. The brand was born in 1998 following the merger of three existing companies (Impronta, Italgraniti and Cotto Calvetro) with the primary objective of exploiting their mutual synergies to create a new enterprise with a full range of ceramics products,
The company, which employs 480 people, achieved a turnover of 108 million euros last year with a production of almost 9 million sq m.
“The Italian market account for 22 per cent of our sales, with the rest going to foreign markets. Around 80 per cent of Impronta Italgraniti’s production is porcelain floor tiles and 20 per cent is wall tiles,” she says. “The company places a high premium on understanding the needs of its designers and end-users by producing a ceramic product that is available in a vast number of styles, colours, formats, finishes, modules and patterns to meet any indoor or outdoor design requirement.”
Impronta Italgraniti has made considerable investment in technological know-how, which has placed its production lines at the forefront in the sector. In addition, considerable resources have been directed to maximising the efficiency of the company’s commercial and distribution network and its advanced information technology systems.
With high-performance products, top-quality service and years of valuable experience with its partners, the company can offer state-of-the-art design solutions such as ventilated facings and raised floors.
Thanks to the high-quality products and personalised service that the company offered to the clients, Impronta Italgraniti’s business in the Gulf area has been growing steadily over the past years, and the prospects for the coming year are equally encouraging, says Fontanesi.
Impronta Italgraniti has also supplied slabs of Pietra Piasentina and Marfil Classico for the 8,000 sq m external area of Mabanee Logistica’s new public refrigerated warehouse in Safat, close to the port of Kuwait.