Ceramic Tiles of Italy now has a new address on the web. The Italian Trade Commission, in collaboration with Assopiastrelle, has launched a single gateway to the Italian tile industry. The address www.italiantiles.com will be a portal to three key industry sites:
www.italytile.com - The Italian Trade Commission site dedicated to Italian ceramic tile in the US market. It includes manufacturer/importer news, event updates, design trend information as well as the popular on-line tile searches. The Italian Trade Commission's database is continuously updated with information on US distributors, importers and retailers and the tiles that they stock.

www.italiatiles.com - Assopiastrelle's institutional site that features information on Ceramic Tiles of Italy's promotional activities and events across the world. It includes downloadable images of the latest Italian tiles along with comprehensive information on the issues and developments that affect the industry.

s-tiles.it - This new site launched in the spring of 2004. Created by Assopiastrelle, the S_tiles website has been designed as an active register of issues and case studies related to sustainable building worldwide with a special focus on the Italian ceramic tile industry's activities. Reflecting Italian tile's dual values of innovation and tradition, a selection of archive photos were chosen. In addition, Milanese photographer Miro Zagnoli was contracted to produce eight photographic case studies that illustrate the eight website sections/themes.

Be sure to visit the new site for the latest information on Ceramic Tiles of Italy. Last Call for Projects in Ceramic Tiles of Italy 2006 Design Competition
The deadline for the Ceramic Tiles of Italy 2006 Design Competition is quickly approaching. Completed submissions must be received by January 30, 2006. This annual awards program, sponsored by Assopiastrelle, the Association of Italian Ceramic Tile Manufacturers, and the Italian Trade Commission, recognizes design excellence in projects that feature Italian ceramic tile.

Residential, commercial and institutional projects, completed between January 2001 and January 2006, are eligible. Entries may be submitted for domestic and international new construction and renovation projects. A panel of design professionals will judge the projects based on the following criterion: overall design of the project, innovative use of tile, tile design, quality of installation and degree that tile enhanced the setting.

In addition to great publicity, winning architects and designers will receive a check for $5000 during Coverings, the premier U.S. tradeshow for the tile and stone industries held in Orlando, Florida from April 4-7, 2006, and are also eligible for a free trip to Bologna, Italy to attend Cersaie, the world's largest exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings, in the fall. There is no fee or limit to the number of submissions. This year, Ceramic Tiles of Italy has added an extra incentive. For the first time, an additional $1,000 will be shared by the winning contractor/distributor team indicated on the official entry form.

Entries can be sent to the Italian Trade Commission, 33 East 67th Street New York, New York 10021. For more information on the competition as well as a downloadable version of the 2006 submission form and images of last year's winning projects, visit www.italiantiles.com, the new web portal for the Ceramic Tile Industry, or contact Novità Communications at info@novitapr.com.