Domenico Orefice’s project for Ceramiche Keope joins the Permanent Collection, sealing the bond between high craftsmanship and industry
Signature design is not just about aesthetics; it is a journey that transforms intuition into cultural heritage. Cotto Milano, the series born from the collaboration between designer Domenico Orefice and the R&D team of Ceramiche Keope, has reached an extraordinary milestone: its induction into the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection. This official recognition seals the value of a project capable of interpreting Milanese historical memory through the languages of contemporary industry.
A Symbolic Return to SaloneSatellite 2026
The collection’s presence at SaloneSatellite 2026, within the exhibition “Craftsmanship + Innovation”, represents a deeply meaningful “homecoming.” Indeed, it was right here in 2018 that Orefice presented his first research on terracotta in collaboration with Fornace Curti.
Today, that artisanal intuition has evolved into an advanced ceramic system. The showcase dedicated to SaloneSatellite 2026 confirms the role of this platform as an incubator for talent, capable of evolving from the prototype phase to global production without losing the soul of the original gesture.
The Material That Built Milan
Cotto Milano is not mere inspiration; it is a true transposition of Lombard terracotta (cotto) into latest-generation porcelain stoneware. The challenge won by Ceramiche Keope was capturing the essence of a material that for centuries defined Milan’s architectural identity, delivering surfaces that are:
- Velvety and matte: thanks to the incredibly soft-to-the-touch ULTRAmatt finish.
- Low-reflectivity: designed to interact naturally with light and modern interior design.
- Architectural: featuring decors and formats that recall the geometries of the city’s Renaissance.
Industrial Innovation and Artisanal Mastery
The inclusion in the Permanent Collection—hosted at the Artwood Academy in Brianza—certifies Cotto Milano as a “witness product” of the transition from concept to industrial reality. At SaloneSatellite 2026, the public will be able to admire how Keope’s technology has succeeded in preserving the sensory, authentic dimension of the raw material.
More than just a collection, this project is a material narrative that transcends time. It is a bridge between local identity and global vision, a meeting point where technological innovation places itself at the service of memory to give contemporary design a new emotional depth.
