Bisazza Techniques

Cladding

• Because the individual tiles are beveled, Bisazza tiles have a more diverse set of applications as a decorative medium than do regular tiles. Bisazza tiles can be used to clad curved surfaces that are both convex and concave. The tiles can also cover entire buildings. The inside and outside corners turn out clean and have a finished look. Bisazza is able to create these effects, in part, because the tiles are installed using a paper-faced method where the tile is fully bonded to the substrate.

Mosaics

• Bisazza is known for its grandiose interpretation of the mosaic. Tile becomes the medium for artistic expression emblazoned across storefronts and on 8-foot statues, notes a 2003 article in "Departures" magazine. Bisazza tiles can also add decorative touches to 3-D replicas of waves. For home users, Bisazza also prefabricates the mosaic pattern to cover large sections of the house - such as the bedroom or foyer - where tile is not usually found.

"Decori" Series

• One special type of enlarged Bisazza tile - the Decori series - is installed using the same adhesive, grouting and smoothing procedures as those for single-colored glass tiles. This type of tile consists of a large, white circle embedded against a black background. When Decori tiles are installed in multiple places on a wall, an optical illusion-like effect emerges.

Smalto, Oro and Gemme

• Apart from single-colored tiles, Bisazza also reinterprets glass tile with subtle variations on individual tiles. For example, Bisazza creates the Smalto series using a Venetian glassmaking technique that applies streaks of enamel to individual tiles. The Oro is constructed using 24-carat gold leaves that are encased in glass. The Gemme is comprised an artificial stone developed in Venice in the 17th century to create a jewel-like sparkle.