Inaugurated on 17 October, The Crown is a spectacular new landmark developed by Casalgrande Padana, which follows on from the earlier Ceramic Cloud - the first work on Italian soil by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
Built near the Casalgrande Padana production facility, on two roundabouts that connect Casalgrande and Sassuolo, the two installations constitute a monumental system of high architectural quality and symbolic value, and represent a kind of eastern gateway to the Emilia region's ceramic cluster. The project was assigned to one of the leading forces in contemporary architecture, Daniel Libeskind, who is a prominent figure on the international stage and has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with the company.
Casalgrande Ceramic Crown is an unusual, three-dimensional structure, which explores innovative applications of latest-generation ceramic components. Clad entirely with Fractile, the special gres porcelain panels with a raised fractal pattern, the installation spirals up towards the sky to a height of 25 metres. It thus emphasises the verticality of its stance, in a volumetric projection with an almost hand-sketched feel, which takes shape in a display of architectural virtuosity that highlights the flexible, environmentally-friendly nature of the material, and its applicability in the most unexpected contexts.
Designed as a ventilated façade anchored to a lean, slender steel structure, The Crown is an unmistakable architectural landmark in the local area.