Japanese brand INAX aims to change the way we use tiles in our homes – Dezeen

Promotion: the “rough, earthy textures” of tiles should be used to bring warmth and texture to every room in the home, not just the bathroom and kitchen, according in order to Japanese brand INAX .

In the UK and other northern European countries, tiles are traditionally associated with wet spaces such as the particular bathroom and kitchen.

INAX , a Japanese brand that was launched in 1924 to produce terracotta plus tile products for the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Imperial Hotel in Tokyo , wants to change this perception and encourage its customers to make use of tiles throughout the home and within retail, hospitality and office spaces.

Sentousai tiles which are grey, long and rectangular
Sentousai tiles are designed to play with light and shadow. Image above shows a range of INAX tiles

“With three-dimensional shapes, rough earthy textures and seemingly unusual and unique designs, all of which are not generally used in bathrooms plus kitchens, you have a whole range of options to choose from to expand your ideas for designing your space, ” said INAX.

INAX specialises in what it refers to as “artistic Japanese tiles” that feature textured surfaces and three-dimensional designs that catch the light.

“The ceramic tiles offer a dynamic play associated with light plus shadow, created through intricately designed styles or carefully calculated differences in thickness, ” stated the brand of its Japanese Tile World Collection.

The tiles in this collection, such as the Homura and Hosowari designs, incorporate traditional Japanese motifs and are made using traditional production techniques where the ceramic tiles are baked for longer periods of time in order to make them more hardwearing and stain-resistant.

White structural Rhythmicii tile
INAX specialises in artistic Japan tiles such as its structural Rhythmicii tile

Homura, for example, is a glazed stoneware floor tile made by INAX’s master ceramicists using the same scratch ceramic tile technique that will was used to create the tiles for that Imperial Resort designed by Frank Lloyd Wright inside 1924.

Homura features an unique, subtle colour gradient and two different surface finishes that will add interest and warmness to the particular interior. INAX suggests making use of the Homura tiles in a fireplace.

Homura grey tiles
The Homura tiles include a subtle colour gradient plus two different surface finishes

The particular Hosowari Border tile is another long-standing product in INAX’s Japanese Tile World Collection.

Featuring smooth, angled edges and the rough-hewn face that creates dramatic shadows, Hosowari is available in a variety of deep colours.

Hosowari Border tile dark tiles on a wall
The floor tiles like the Hosowari Border tile have a three-dimensional shape designed to capture the lighting

The brand advises that this floor tile suits hotel lobbies, restaurants, living rooms and offices.

The particular now-demolished Imperial Hotel will be Wright ‘s best-known building within Asia and is where he combined his western design principles and a fascination with Japan.

White INAX tiles on a desk
INAX was launched in 1924 plus aims to improve the belief of tiles

For the interior, the American architect chose a mix of materials, including reinforced concrete and brickwork. Ōya stone, a Japanese volcanic tuff rock featuring hues of grey and green, also featured and was carved into decorative patterns simply by local craftsman to reference traditional Mayan designs.

However , the building’s ornamentation plus interlocking planes were furthermore suggestive associated with historic Japan architecture.

The Hosowari Border collection
The Hosowari Border collection incorporates conventional Japanese motifs

To view more about the Japanese Floor tile World selection visit INAX’s Japanese Ceramic tile World website .

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for INAX as part of a partnership. Find out more regarding Dezeen partnership content here .

The Interiorist

The Interiorist

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