Seamless mineral coverings in warm colors
In conversation with Emilio Stecher on site in the Kerakoll Design House, in the exhibition with the ingenious seamless coverings from Emilio Stecher AG in Root LU.
Emilio Stecher AG has opened a new, innovative exhibition for interior design. In addition to their well-known domestic and foreign natural stones, they also show ceramic and artificial stones today. What particularly fascinates me, however, are the seamless mineral coverings, which are particularly eye-catching in the homely atmosphere with their warm colors. To show such a new product is rather unusual for a traditional natural stone company. How did that happen?
My son Emilio junior, the fourth generation of our company, completed a stage in the construction chemicals company Kerakoll in Sassuolo, Italy. This company distinguishes itself with its Green Label especially for ecological products. Its CEO and owner in the person of Gianluca Sghedoni has already been entrepreneur of the year in Italy twice. Emilio then enthusiastically told me about “Kerakoll Design House”.
Why did you agree to your son and turn the finished plans for your exhibition completely upside down?
Actually, it is not a classic stone. I then drove to Modena with my project manager Luigi Gioiello, who was in charge of this exhibition, to visit this fascinating exhibition in particular. Mr. Gioiello designed the exhibition based on his vast experience, precisely with the architect's wishes, which he advises on a daily basis. The people in charge at Kerakoll explained the philosophy and the entire 10-year development period to us: The atmosphere of the Warm Collection is the result of exclusive and sophisticated research into textures, surfaces and colors in the unmistakable style of the star architect and designer Piero Lissoni. Mr Gioiello was delighted. It was the icing on the cake, which was actually still missing in his finished concept. He was happy to redraw everything and integrated this excellent product in perfect harmony with our traditional stones.
But I also see structures and various surface treatments. How about that?
It is correct, it is also from smooth layers like silk to irregular, naturally grained surfaces. And finally, it is also a guaranteed visual experience: from the mineral grains to the refinement of the classic "handmade" by the processor to the reaction effects of the light, which creates a fascinating and elegant atmosphere.
Can “Kerakoll Design House” be used anywhere, in wet and dry areas for new buildings and renovations?
It is a classic product for exclusive interior design. Since it applies 2-3.5 mm depending on the product, it is the ideal solution in the field of renovations. Existing healthy surfaces can be coated with it. Especially for buildings from the 60s or 70s, which were often equipped with panels, which were made with asbestos
containing construction adhesives have been added, there is no need for laborious picking out and disposal with special contamination. The thin application and the subsequent seamless appearance create completely new rooms in a state-of-the-art outfit. It is ingenious that wet rooms can also be equipped. The dream of every architect to design rooms or bathrooms without joints can be realized here. "Kerakoll Design House" is a product that also integrates our natural stones and can therefore be combined in an innovative way. A new interior design style is born.
Is the processing demanding and expensive and which craftsmen do it?
In fact, it is not a product that is sold based on price. In general, the product is used by experienced stucco workers, plasterers or specially trained painters.
After around four years, what kind of assessment can you draw of successfully completed properties? What do your customers, architects and users say about it? Was your concept of the integrated exhibition understood? Are the only 10 colors of the "Kerakoll Design House" sufficient for the high demands of today's discerning customers?
We have received a very good response from our customers and visitors. Our excellent advice, which is really also competent, also contributes to this, and this is very much appreciated by the visitors. The 10 warm and appealing colors are a comprehensive design project, which can also be combined with various surface treatments. The various products such as “Cementoresina”, “Cementoex”, “Cementocrudo”, additional continuous Microresina wall surfaces, which Wallcrete, Wallpaper and Microresina Wall and, thanks to the individual handwriting of the user, have special notes, make the product never seem boring. On the contrary, the additional decorative coatings such as paint, patina, decor up to the Invisible skirting allow huge combination options, which are perfectly coordinated in the “Warm Collection” color palette. This just leads to a total work of art, which the signature of Pie-
ro Lissoni and from the very experienced stucco
dear Mr. Antonio Pungitore (who has many years of experience in restoration and plastering
Work can look back) has been implemented excellently by our customers. Nevertheless, each object is individual and could always be combined to suit the customer's taste. ■
Emilio Stecher