Interviews / 8/25/2025

From design to installation

Safety and efficiency on site with sustainable solutions for precise and long-lasting installation of large format tiles

Interviewee

Silvana Carassiti

Ceramic line specialist and technical services, Mapei

During the extention works at the new Enegreen headquarters, Mapei supported designers and installers with an integrated system for laying large-format ceramic tiles. Thanks to solutions like Mapeguard UM 35 and products from the Zero* line, it was possible to ensure aesthetic quality, durability, and sustainability. Technical support helped simplify operational challenges, reducing installation time and unexpected issues. We discuss it with Silvana Carassiti.

In a complex project like the Enegreen headquarters, technical services plays a crucial role in ensuring high-quality results. What was Mapei’s role during the various stages of the project?

Mapei provided technical support throughout the project, advising both the building products distributor and the architect on the system that would best support the architectural solutions detailed in the executive design documents. This allowed us to offer all-round support at every stage of the process, from design through to installation of the chosen materials. Mapei provided technical assistance to all professionals involved in the various stages of the site work, as well as for installation of the Profilpas edge profiles, an integrated system that helps preserve the long-term integrity of the ceramic coverings.

The Enegreen headquarters near Milan were recently extended by using Mapei products for the installation of ceramic tiles.

What were the main requirements and challenges?

The proposed solution was intended to enhance the visual appeal of the large-format ceramic tiles selected by the client while allowing for rapid and problem-free installation. The building was to host a major conference just weeks after the work was due to begin, so both aesthetic quality and durability were – and continue to be – key priorities.

To meet these requirements, we proposed a ceramic tile installation package that included the Mapeguard UM 35 waterproofing, uncoupling and anti-fracture membrane. Use of this membrane allowed large-format ceramic tiles to be installed without having to copy the layout of control joints, thereby avoiding the need to cut or reduce the size of the tiles. It also acted as a vapour barrier, helping to speed up project delivery. The complete Mapei technical solution, in collaboration with Profilpas, allowed to resolve unexpected issues on site swiftly and fully meet the requirements of the project.

The complete technical solution enabled unexpected issues to be resolved swiftly on site, ensuring that the project requirements were fully met

The solution proposed by Mapei for the new Enegreen headquarters ensured safe and long-lasting installation of large-format ceramic tiles.

Sustainability is a value shared by everyone involved in the project. How did this shared vision influence the design choices and solutions adopted?

Although sustainability might at first glance seem incompatible with construction, it is actually the driving force behind innovation in the building sector.

Mapei has been offering products with a low environmental impact for many years, and in this project we were able to provide technical solutions that met the architect's sustainable construction goals. The new Enegreen headquarters, built using products from the Zero* line, testifies to the company’s commitment to promoting sustainable construction.

Today, choosing sustainable materials benefits both the installers and the people who will live and work in these spaces.

The Zero* line products are high-quality materials whose CO₂ emissions, measured throughout the life cycle of products from the Zero* line in 2025 using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, verified and certified with EPDs, have been offset through the acquisition of certified carbon credits in support of forestry protection projects.

^{*CO₂ emissions measured throughout the life cycle of products from the Zero line in 2025 using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, verified and certified with EPDs, have been offset through the acquisition of certified carbon credits in support of forestry protection projects. A commitment to the planet, to people and to biodiversity. For more details on how emissions are calculated and on climate mitigation projects financed through certified carbon credits,}^{click here.}