Finemateria and Fornace Brioni Launch Microbia Terracotta Collection

Design studio Finemateria and historic terracotta manufacturer Fornace Brioni have launched the Microbia collection, a collaboration that translates microscopic soil organisms into handcrafted terracotta surfaces. Launched in July 2026, the collection includes mosaic tiles and flooring systems that capture the chaotic rhythms of microbial life. Fornace Brioni, founded in 1920, brought its century-old hand-molding expertise to produce the small-scale biomorphic tiles entirely by hand, rejecting industrial precision in favor of artisanal variation. The collection features mosaic pieces in heights of 45 mm and 60 mm, while the flooring system uses water-jet cutting to integrate grout lines as part of the design. The collaboration was driven by a shared vision of embracing material complexity and craftsmanship, with Finemateria contributing geometric rigor and Fornace Brioni providing deep knowledge of clay and its transformations. The project originated from microscopic observation of soil, revealing the dynamic activity of microorganisms, which was then distilled into a repeating geometric pattern intended to create a continuous rhythm across surfaces.