Minoli Design Trends Report 2023 – Trend 05

In this fifth extract from the Minoli Design Trends Report we look at the latest design directions in exterior use porcelain pavers. Read on as we explore Trend 05 – Optimising Outdoor Spaces.

In response to the ever-increasing demand from garden designers, professional landscapers, house builders, property developers and residential homeowners, the leading producers of Italian porcelain have focused investment into the design and delivery of outstanding new technically advanced outdoor porcelain paving.

These ranges feature the latest in tile manufacturing methodologies. Advancements in production allow for more expansive sizes, 20 mm thickness, increased load bearing and frost resistance, anti-slip qualities and higher-definition surface design, resulting in an unprecedented diversity of textures and finishes.

In concrete and wood effects through to those that emulate natural stone and now marble, many in the extensive Outdoor by Minoli collection have coordinating interior tiles to match, so very consistent indoor to outside transitions can be achieved. A 9 mm indoor tile, which may be matt or gloss and easy to clean, is coordinated with a grippy, 20 mm external counterpart with a higher slip resistance rating, such as those ranging R11 and above.

New designs, colours and finishes have also seen porcelain paving considered for and used in a much wider range of exterior surface settings including patios, terraces, driveways and paths but also balconies, stairways, swimming pool surrounds and outdoor kitchens, for instance. This is in part made possible by the introduction of alternative fixing solutions. Alongside using traditional adhesive and grout, given the weight and strength of 20 mm porcelain, these pavers can also be laid to grass or earth, or installed onto new pedestal systems which offer improved drainage and easier access to pipework or cabling.

Progressive manufacturing and transportation techniques have enabled more innovative architectural applications. Cutting-edge ranges are now available in larger calibrated formats of up to 120/120 and with clean-cut rectified edges, which allows for very precise and near-seamless installation. Beyond residential applications, this has made porcelain pavers particularly attractive for use in commercial and hospitality venues as well, where more expansive areas need to be finished with a highly durable, safe and low maintenance product.

Another important consideration in modern building specifications is the sustainability of both the materials used in construction and the performance of the final built environment. Porcelain paving is manufactured according to energy and water-efficiency criteria, and it is an environmentally friendly choice due to its long-lasting and recyclable characteristics. Furthermore, its production is ‘zero waste’, based on the use of natural and always reusable materials, and porcelain pavers do not contain any volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, PVC, plastics or petroleum derivatives.

Launched as a brand-new series mid last year, the Outdoor By Minoli Collection features 10 distinct ranges, comprising over 40 individual product lines, specifically manufactured for use outside and held in UK stock ready for prompt delivery. Beyond this extensive stockholding in our centrally located Oxford warehouse, such is the traction of this trend for optimising outdoor spaces, a further 80+ product lines are available for order from our leading production plants in Italy.

The latest ranges in that can be ordered from our production plants in Outdoor specification include:

Marvel Ten-X Outdoor – a collection of stunning marble-effect porcelain pavers which feature an innovative new Hammered finish that reproduces a surface like natural split stone that has been beaten and brushed for a tactile and textural effect. In a 20 mm thickness, this variant is available specifically for outdoor applications with an R11 slip-resistant surface.

Marvel Travertine Outdoor – at the forefront of stone-effect production innovations for 2023 and featuring new finishing techniques that emulate a Vein Cut, exposing linear streaks in the pattern and providing an ideal surface with which to create a grippy texture for outdoor installation.

Boost Mix Outdoor – distinct and dynamic in design, Boost Mix products have coordinating sizes for both inside and outdoor specification, so near seamless transitions can be created between interior and exterior living areas.

Essenza Oudh Outdoor – showcasing the very latest advancements in wood-effect porcelain with the introduction of outdoor specification product lines, with 20 mm thickness and R11 slip resistance ratings. With these exterior-use attributes, ranges like Essenza Oudh have become very viable and desirable alternatives to timber or composite decking.

If you’d like to read more about the latest creative concepts in tiles for interior application as well, you can view or download the full report, from our brochure page here.