Tweet

Ultra-thin technology, a pioneering vision, and environmental responsibility: Kerlite is a surface that fully embodies Cotto D’Este’s commitment to advanced, sustainable, and beautiful architecture. First introduced in 2004, it continues to set the standard for the most innovative porcelain stoneware on the market.

The theme of the Biennale Architettura 2025 shines the spotlight on a new way of conceiving architectural design that is in no way static, but rather exalts a kind of finesse that is adaptive and sensitive to its context, capable of evolving and generating a positive impact while responding to the challenges of the real world.
A vision that calls for a fresh perspective on how we build and inhabit a space, encouraging deeper reflection on the need and opportunity to increasingly integrate human ability and creativity with the potential that technology offers.

This approach resonates perfectly with the philosophy of Cotto d’Este, a long-time advocate of conscientious architecture that blends aesthetics, technological innovation, and sustainability. With Kerlite, the brand led the way in introducing ultra-thin porcelain slabs to the market in 2004 – a true technical and cultural revolution in the ceramic industry.
With reduced thicknesses, outstanding performance, and exceptional versatility, Kerlite makes it possible to do more with less, respecting natural resources while meeting the demands of contemporary design.

KERLITE: THE SURFACE THAT IS REVOLUTIONISING CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE

Maximum creative freedom, minimal environmental impact: Kerlite – available in three thicknesses (3plus – 3.5 mm; 5plus – 5.5 mm; 6plus – 6.5 mm) – represents a true evolution in porcelain stoneware. These ultra-thin, over-sized formats are also reinforced with a layer of fibreglass, a distinctive and exclusive feature that ensures superior strength, durability, and quality.

Available in a wide range of collections just waiting to be explored – from the sophisticated, contemporary textures of the multi-award-winning Arketipo and the enveloping marble-like sheen of Starlight, to the mineral beauty of Pura and the hypnotic veining of Advantage – these surfaces represent the perfect fusion of cutting-edge ceramic technology and elegant aesthetics, perfect for an infinite number of applications.

Chosen by visionary architects and designers around the world, Kerlite slabs have helped shape prestigious projects in Italy and beyond.

A prime example is the Pécs Zoo (Hungary), where over-sized 100×300 cm Kerlite 3plus slabs, in bright Corail Blanc from the Buxy collection, were used to clad the exterior walls of the main building.

The same collection in the same shade was used to enhance the majestic Yangtze River Delta Hi-Tech Park project in Hangzhou, China. Here ultra-thin Kerlite 3plus slabs were used for the ventilated façades of the D Center, reaffirming the versatility and prestige of this ceramic solution.

In Italy, Cotto d’Este and its ultra-thin slabs played a key role in, among other things, the expansion project of the “G. Pasquinucci” Hospital in Massa.
Here, three different colour variations of the Limestone collection, inspired by the mineral beauty of the seabed, in the Kerlite 5plus version, were used to clad the building’s ventilated façades.

One of the most remarkable projects in which Kerlite was used, was in the field of infrastructure. Here a custom-made version of these ultra-thin slabs, in anti-reflective white, were chosen to clad the curved walls of the longest tunnel of the Variante di Valico, one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Europe.

These achievements are a testament to Kerlite’s versatility and reliability across a wide range of applications and in many different countries, reaffirming its status as a benchmark surface for advanced architectural projects worldwide.

KERLITE EASY: THE DRY INSTALLATION SYSTEM THAT SIMPLIFIES THE FUTURE

Instant elegance and uncompromising sustainability: Kerlite Easy completes Cotto d’Este’s catalogue as the first patented dry-installation system for ultra-thin slabs. No adhesives, no mortar – just speed, precision, and a dramatically reduced environmental impact.
Completely removable and reusable, it is the perfect solution for environments that are constantly evolving – hotels, stores, offices, temporary spaces – in which aesthetics and design must go hand in hand with functionality and creative freedom.
Kerlite is perfect for residential environments as well, as it allows for non-invasive renovations and total freedom of choice.

An iconic example is the Gaëlle Paris showroom in the heart of Milan, where ultra-thin Kerlite surfaces were dry-installed to create a dynamic interplay between black and white.
The slabs, in the 100×100 cm format and in both glossy and matte finishes from the Black-White collection, were used for the floors and walls, perfectly capturing the brand’s bold and urban style while showcasing the practicality and freedom-of-use offered by the Kerlite Easy system.

TECHNOLOGICAL, LIGHTWEIGHT, AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS BY COTTO D’ESTE

Cotto d’Este’s ultra-thin slabs are sustainable from the very start: made exclusively with natural materials, they require few raw ingredients, less energy, and less water to produce than traditional surfaces.
But that’s not all. The emissions associated with Kerlite surfaces are 100% offset, for beauty that leaves nothing behind but innovation.

After minimising the emissions generated by production, Cotto d’Este calculated all remaining emissions throughout the slabs’ entire life cycle, offsetting them through certified carbon credits connected to projects with a tangible and measurable environmental impact.
The result is a collection of ultra-thin surfaces whose CO₂ emissions are completely compensated for: the most sustainable ceramic product on the market, designed to help create a better, more liveable, and more responsible world.