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An installation exploring circular production, material innovation and the future of ceramic surfaces.
VitrA, in collaboration with the international design practice Snøhetta, presents Ceramics Forged in Light, an immersive installation created for INTERNI MATERIAE, the exhibition curated by INTERNI during Milan Design Week. On view from April 20–30, the installation offers a spatial interpretation of how ceramics are shaped through advanced production processes, circular material flows and ongoing innovation.
Developed as part of VitrA’s continued exploration of material efficiency and production innovation, the installation reflects a manufacturing approach where ceramic is not treated as a fixed output, but as part of a continuous process. By reintegrating production waste into its manufacturing systems and refining process control, VitrA advances a model in which performance, consistency and resource efficiency are addressed together.
Circular production in practice
At the centre of this approach is a circular production logic. Ceramic waste generated during manufacturing is systematically collected, processed and reintroduced into the production cycle. This reduces reliance on virgin raw materials while maintaining the technical and aesthetic standards required for architectural applications. The result is a controlled and repeatable system that supports both large-scale production and design flexibility.
This year’s MATERIAE installation translates this production thinking into a physical environment. Light, water and raw material are brought together to reflect the stages through which ceramic is formed, transformed and stabilised. Light acts as a proxy for the firing process, while water evokes both the origins of the material and its controlled reuse within manufacturing systems. Rather than presenting ceramics as a static surface, the installation frames it as something shaped over time through a sequence of technical interventions.
Collaboration with Snøhetta
Working with Snøhetta enables this connection between process and space to be articulated at an architectural scale. Known for its transdisciplinary approach, the practice integrates architecture, landscape, interior and product design into a single spatial narrative. In Ceramics Forged in Light, this approach allows material behaviour, environmental conditions and human perception to be considered together, creating an environment that is both immersive and precise.
VitrA commented: “Celebrating 20 years of our presence in Milan, this installation expresses VitrA’s commitment to responsible production, honoring natural resources while advancing circular design. Building on its recycled washbasins, our new 100% recycled tiles continue this journey, demonstrating how sustainability can inspire creativity and open new pathways for innovation. The installation also reflects how we think about production today; developing systems that support material reuse, optimize processes and ensure consistent performance at scale. Ceramic has always been a durable and adaptable material; through manufacturing innovation and circular thinking, we are extending that capability even further.”
Anne-Rachel Schiffmann, Director of Interior Architecture at Snøhetta, added: “Ceramic is one of the most enduring materials in human culture, yet it continues to evolve. This installation creates a dialogue between elements and processes, showing how material can be shaped and reshaped over time. It invites visitors to slow down and engage with both its origins and its future potential.”
Material stewardship as a catalyst for creativity
The spatial composition draws on architectural references that emphasise the relationship between light and material. Openings above allow light to enter and shift throughout the day, interacting with water and ceramic surfaces. At the centre, a reflective water element amplifies this interaction, subtly altering perception and highlighting the material qualities of the installation. Basins and surfaces are not presented as isolated objects, but as part of a broader system in which form, light and process are interconnected.
Through this project, VitrA positions ceramics within a wider conversation about how materials are produced, used and reintroduced into industrial systems. By aligning design with manufacturing capability, the installation demonstrates how circular principles can be embedded into production without compromising quality or application.
As one of the oldest engineered materials, ceramic continues to evolve in response to changing technical and environmental requirements. Ceramics Forged in Light reflects this trajectory, bringing together tradition, industrial capability and design thinking to explore how material innovation can shape the next generation of architectural surfaces.
About Snøhetta
Snøhetta is an internationally recognized, transdisciplinary design practice with studios in Oslo, New York, Innsbruck, Paris, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Melbourne. The firm operates across four continents and works on projects of all scales and typologies. Since its founding in 1989, Snøhetta has established a reputation for design that is both conceptually rigorous and deeply rooted in context, cultural, environmental, and social. Snøhetta’s work spans architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, product design, and graphic design, emphasizing human experience, ecological sensitivity, and collaborative process.
Named after a prominent Norwegian mountain, Snøhetta was established by Kjetil Trædal Thorsen and Craig Dykers with an ethos centered on dialogue-driven, integrated design that dissolves traditional disciplinary boundaries. The studio’s horizontal organizational structure supports cross-disciplinary innovation across scales, typologies, and geographies.
Snøhetta’s work is distinguished by its seamless integration of interior and exterior space, with careful attention to materiality, light, and spatial narrative. Each project is approached as part of a broader dialogue with its surroundings and users, aiming to create places that foster identity, connection, and shared experience.
With a diverse international team, Snøhetta continues to address complex global challenges through design, advancing the belief that thoughtful, collaborative practice can shape more resilient, inclusive, and meaningful environments.
