Technical Portal for Sustainable Architecture
Ventilated Facades in Extruded Stoneware: Technical Performance and Ceramic Tradition
VM Group offers thirty years of experience in the design and installation of ventilated façades made from extruded porcelain stoneware, collaborating with global industry leaders such as Buchtal.
This material, known for its exceptional strength and superior physical characteristics resulting from the extrusion process, is the ideal solution for buildings requiring extreme durability and a deep material effect. Thanks to its concealed fastening systems and a variety of finishes—from warm terracotta tones to metallic effects like Corten—we guarantee building envelopes capable of defying time and the elements. From residential condominium redevelopments in Viterbo to high-end industrial headquarters, VM Group transforms extruded stoneware into a tool for energy efficiency and superior architectural design.
Buchtal concealed fastening system
View the slides
Watch the video
Green Condominium Redevelopment: Photoactive Ceramics and Integrated Photovoltaics
The Active Building Envelope: Energy Sustainability and Air Purification
In this impressive 9,700 m² redevelopment project, VM Group has combined technology and the environment in a single integrated system. The surface is covered with photoactive ceramic tiles (1200x600 mm), a revolutionary material capable of breaking down atmospheric pollutants through photocatalysis, actively contributing to the healthiness of the urban environment.
The real innovation lies in the solar orientation: for the south and west-facing facades, we have integrated photovoltaic panels directly into the ventilated facade system. This solution not only guarantees maximum thermal insulation thanks to rock wool and natural ventilation, but also transforms the building into a renewable energy production plant. Thanks to our thirty years of experience, we have been able to perfectly coordinate the aesthetics of the ceramic tiles with the photovoltaic modules, creating a continuous, modern, and technologically advanced façade.
The integration of photovoltaics into facades requires meticulous ventilation management to prevent the modules from overheating and ensure maximum yield. VM Group has designed the cavity to ensure constant air flow, integrating specific fire barriers for facades with electrical components, guaranteeing total protection of the system for over 60 years.
Bologna – High-Rise Residential Complex
Large-Scale Building Envelope Engineering: 5,500 square meters of Buchtal Extruded Ceramic
VM Group offers thirty years of experience in the design and installation of ventilated façades made from extruded porcelain stoneware, collaborating with global industry leaders such as Buchtal.
This material, known for its exceptional strength and superior physical characteristics resulting from the extrusion process, is the ideal solution for buildings requiring extreme durability and a deep material effect. Thanks to its concealed fastening systems and a variety of finishes—from warm terracotta tones to metallic effects like Corten—we guarantee building envelopes capable of defying time and the elements. From residential condominium redevelopments in Viterbo to high-end industrial headquarters, VM Group transforms extruded stoneware into a tool for energy efficiency and superior architectural design.
Residenza Viterbo – Tradition and Buchtal Technology
Extruded Porcelain Stoneware: The Elegance of Terracotta with Cutting-Edge Performance
In this redevelopment project in Viterbo, VM Group oversaw the cladding of an entire residential building using high-end Buchtal extruded porcelain stoneware.
The choice of a terracotta-colored finish allows the structure to blend seamlessly into the local architectural context, while benefiting from cutting-edge construction technology. The façade, which extends over a surface area of 400 square meters, uses a concealed mechanical fastening system that ensures a clean aesthetic, eliminating any visible fastening elements. This solution not only ensures high durability against atmospheric agents, but also optimizes the building envelope's energy performance, offering residents superior thermal comfort and significantly enhancing the value of the property.
The redevelopment of the CR Project headquarters in Viterbo represents an excellent example of ventilated façades for the industrial sector. Over a 400-square-meter area, Buchtal porcelain stoneware with a sophisticated Corten-effect finish was installed, giving the warehouse a modern, textured look and strong visual impact.
The use of a concealed fastening system enhances the linearity of the panels, creating a seamless and architecturally rigorous surface. This choice combines the textured, aged look of oxidized metal with the durability of ceramic, ensuring excellent thermal insulation and zero maintenance for an industrial building that stands out.
CR Project Viterbo – Advanced Industrial Design
Corten-Effect Porcelain Stoneware: The Aesthetics of Metal with Ceramic Technology
Volumetric Restyling in Viterbo – The Architectural Metamorphosis
From Dated Structure to Contemporary Design: Transformation Engineering
Project: Restyling and Renovation in Viterbo
This project represents one of the most interesting technical challenges faced in Viterbo. It wasn't just a simple cladding project, but a radical volumetric transformation of the commercial building.
To overcome the dated aesthetic of the rounded roof, we designed and installed custom auxiliary metalwork, which completely redefines the building's profile, making it modern and perfectly rectangular.
Above this new structure, we then installed a ventilated porcelain stoneware façade, giving the property a contemporary look and dramatically improving its thermal performance. The "Before and After" images demonstrate how our technical expertise can transform an old building into a prestigious architectural structure, increasing its market value and interior comfort.
Lecce Hospital Complex – Healthcare Excellence and Material Durability
Synergy between Extruded Ceramic and Aluminum: Permanent Hygiene and Safety
In the prestigious Lecce Hospital Complex project, VM Group implemented a ventilated façade system that exploits the exceptional properties of extruded porcelain stoneware. This material was chosen due to the strict requirements of the healthcare sector, where surface resistance and ease of sanitization are essential. Extruded stoneware guarantees a cladding that remains unchanged over time, capable of withstanding atmospheric agents and maintaining extremely high standards of hygiene.
The integration of ceramic slabs with composite aluminum slabs has made it possible to create a dynamic and reassuring architectural surface, while optimizing the internal microclimate of the structure. Thanks to our thirty years of experience in managing complex construction sites, we coordinated the installation of different materials, ensuring perfect continuity of the floors and constant natural ventilation. The result is a high-performance energy building that guarantees comfort and safety for patients and medical staff, representing a model of contemporary healthcare architecture.
Fano (PU) – Residential Condominium
Material Continuity and Inspectable Technology in Buchtal Ceramics
In Fano, VM Group created a ventilated facade system that stands out for the total integration of the cladding into the building's architecture. Using Buchtal extruded stoneware, the project involved not only the vertical surfaces but also the ceilings and under-balconies, creating a continuous, protective ceramic envelope.
The technical peculiarity of this project lies in the concealed, inspectable fastening system: an advanced engineering solution that combines impeccable aesthetics, with no visible fasteners, with the practicality of being able to access the cavity for any maintenance checks.
Thanks to VM Group's thirty years of experience, the building now benefits from excellent thermal insulation and extreme durability, guaranteed by the resistance of extruded stoneware to salt and atmospheric agents typical of coastal areas.
Villafranca in Lunigiana (MS) – “Leonardo da Vinci” Scientific High School
Cutting-edge School Architecture: Chromatic Dynamism and Safety
The project for the “Leonardo da Vinci” Scientific High School represents excellence in public school construction, where safety and durability are priority requirements. VM Group has created a ventilated facade system in extruded ceramic characterized by a refined multicolored effect, capable of giving dynamism and identity to the institute.
The use of a concealed, inspectable fastening system guarantees absolute aesthetic cleanliness without compromising functionality: the structure allows for quick and targeted maintenance, ensuring maximum longevity for the building envelope.
Thanks to rock wool thermal insulation and natural ventilation, the building guarantees an ideal microclimate for teaching activities, drastically reducing energy consumption and protecting students with certified non-combustible materials.
Bologna – Alì Supermarkets
Corporate Identity and Innovation: The Multicolored Inspectable Cladding
The creation of the ventilated façade for the Alì store in Bologna demonstrates how ceramic technology can become a powerful corporate communication tool.
VM Group has implemented an extruded ceramic system that not only respects the brand's aesthetic standards but also ensures cutting-edge performance in a high-traffic commercial setting.
The system adopted stands out for its use of concealed, inspectable fastenings: a technical solution that allows the purity of the surfaces to be maintained without compromising on practicality. Thanks to natural ventilation and the use of materials resistant to urban pollutants, the building maintains an optimal internal microclimate and an aesthetic appearance that remains unchanged over time. This project confirms VM Group's ability to manage commercial-scale projects with the precision and attention to detail that come from thirty years of experience in the field.
Viterbo – AXA Insurance Headquarters
Corporate Prestige and Technological Precision in Extruded Ceramics
The new AXA headquarters in Viterbo is an example of excellence in office architecture, where aesthetics must reflect the brand's values of solidity and reliability. VM Group oversaw the design and installation of a 370 m² ventilated facade, using high-quality extruded ceramic tiles laid with a concealed mechanical fastening system.
This technical solution made it possible to achieve perfectly flat surfaces without visual interruptions, enhancing the institutional character of the building. In addition to its aesthetic impact, the ventilated cladding ensures superior energy performance, protecting the workspaces from temperature changes and guaranteeing optimal sound insulation. Thanks to VM Group's thirty years of experience in handling non-combustible materials such as rock wool, the AXA headquarters is a safe, efficient building that is destined to maintain its prestige over time.
Imola – Romagna Impianti Headquarters
Color Innovation and Technical Versatility: The Inspectable Facade
The Romagna Impianti headquarters in Imola is a masterful example of how extruded ceramic can be used to convey dynamism and precision. VM Group designed and installed a 280 m² ventilated façade featuring a lively multicolored pattern that breaks up the monotony of the existing industrial volumes. The interplay of three different colors and the alternation of formats break up the monotony of the volumes, giving the building a technological and modern image.
The real technological heart of this project lies in the special concealed anchoring structure: an engineered system that makes the entire facade accessible for inspection. This solution combines a clean design, with no visible hooks, with maximum operational functionality, allowing access to the cavity for maintenance or future system implementations without damaging the cladding. The use of extruded ceramic also guarantees total resistance to atmospheric agents and a color cleanliness that will remain unchanged over time, increasing the value of the company's assets.
Viterbo – Residential Redevelopment
Light and Performance: Urban Rebirth in White Ceramic
In Viterbo, VM Group has transformed a traditional apartment building into an example of bright and sustainable architecture. The redevelopment project involved the installation of a ventilated facade in white extruded ceramic, chosen for its ability to reflect sunlight and give the building a modern and clean look.
The use of extruded stoneware guarantees an unalterable surface that is resistant to smog and atmospheric agents, ensuring that the white color of the facade remains bright over time without the need for periodic repainting. Thanks to our thirty years of experience, we have integrated a layer of rock wool insulation which, combined with the ventilated cavity, has reduced the condominium's energy consumption, significantly improving the quality of life of the residents and revaluing the entire property.
Viterbo – Urban Regeneration: From Curtain Wall to White Ceramic
Material Evolution and Energy Savings in Extruded Ceramic
This redevelopment project in Viterbo represents a successful challenge in modernizing the existing building stock. VM Group transformed a condominium featuring an old, deteriorated brick facade into a contemporary architectural structure, using a ventilated façade system made of white extruded ceramic.
The choice of extruded ceramic permanently solved the problems of deterioration and infiltration typical of old brick facades, while also offering excellent thermal insulation. The new white envelope not only reflects sunlight, improving the urban microclimate, but also guarantees a self-cleaning and durable surface. Thanks to our thirty years of experience, the building has abandoned a heavy, dated aesthetic to embrace a clean, energy-efficient design, guaranteeing immediate savings and unprecedented living comfort for the residents.
Want to learn more about the technical characteristics of this material?
Visit our Ventilated Facade Guide.
Want to learn about the benefits of porcelain stoneware for your project?
Request technical advice from our experts.
