"Smog-Eating" Building in Milan Created Using Active Ceramics

Active photocatalytic ceramic surfaces help a new project in Milan to counteract 59 kilograms per year of nitrogen oxide.

10 August 2020 | Milan, Italy

A new project from Fiandre Architectural Surfaces: De Castillia 23, owned by Unipol Group, is a building complex for the advanced tertiary sector designed by the integrated design company Progetto CMR in accordance with modern sustainable principles.

Fiandre Architectural Surfaces designed customized solutions including the use of active photocatalytic ceramics from the Core Shade collection, in the Cloudy Core Active and Sharp Core Active textures.

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De Castillia 23

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These are self-cleaning, anti-odor, anti-pollution, and antibacterial surfaces providing 24-hour antibacterial protection, even in the dark.

This project fully rewards the ongoing research carried out by the Group’s R&D team and by the University of Milan, our partner in developing innovative and environmentally conscious high-tech design solutions.

The Chemistry Department of the University of Milan has estimated that the 16,088 square meters of special active tiles, installed for this project, can counteract 59 kilograms per year of nitrogen oxide, equivalent to more than 200,000 square meters of green space.

These numbers are the reason why De Castillia 23 is referred to as the “smog-eating” building.

The special active ceramic surfaces by Fiandre Architectural Surfaces used in the “smog-eating” building by Progetto CMR

For De Castillia 23, one of its greenest and most innovative projects, the integrated design company Progetto CMR chose Fiandre Architectural Surfaces as its partner, while The Iris Ceramica Group brand developed sustainable solutions.

Fiandre’s expertise is also reflected in its waste-free design and, in this case, the 120-by-60 centimeter main format was chosen, optimizing the way in which the ceramic material was cut so that the whole porcelain stoneware tiles could be used without any waste.

Attention was paid to detail during installation, including 45-degree shaped corners for all edge pieces on the building, with different finishes, either smooth or rough depending on their function.

For more on this story, go to World Architecture News.