Compatta
Designed by Milanese interior architect Federico Peri, Compatta translates the ancient art of rammed earth into a disciplined surface system. Inspired by the compressed clay of the ancient world, the collection pairs raw geological strata with mid-century flair. Rendered in high-performance Italian porcelain across MAGNUM porcelain panels and versatile floor tiles, Compatta offers Australian specifiers an authentic material anchor engineered for light, longevity, and sustainable spatial design.
Rammed Earth, Uninterrupted Strata.
The physical history of rammed earth (Pisé), spans thousands of years across northern Jordan, and rural African homebuilding. The technique relies on an elemental rhythm. Raw clay and ground soil are poured into wooden shuttering, compacted layer by layer, and left to harden. The resulting surface bears a natural record of its creation, expressed through dense horizontal strata of varying tone and texture.
Compatta honours this material tradition, translating the weight and gravity of traditional rammed earth construction into surfaces built for modern use.
Raw Material Meets Modernist Discipline.
To translate earth into an architectural language, designer Federico Peri integrated elements of raw materiality through mid-century design principles. The collection draws on Gio Ponti’s combination of light and shadow as an aesthetic theme and constant. The range also reflects the sinuous landscape contours of Roberto Burle Marx, and the three-dimensional concrete of English sculptor William Mitchell. By embedding these reference points in the material rationale, Compatta innovates on organic soil randomness with structural control.
Four Tonal Expressions.
Compatta is structured on four distinct colorways, available in dynamic Pisé horizontal stratification. Sabbia evokes the warm, sunburnt desert, bringing balanced warmth across expansive living volumes. Melange offers a synthesis of layered clay and mineral strata, creating an expressive focal point for entry lobbies and feature walls. Limo introduces cool riverbed silt and grey clay for minimalist palettes, while Ghiaia utilises deep charcoal-tinted gravel to anchor moody spatial specifications.
Designed to Scale.
While traditional rammed earth remains structurally limited and climate-sensitive, Compatta captures the texture and tactile nature of clay inside dense, non-porous porcelain. The collection is engineered across two formats to serve a variety of architectural specifications. 1200x2800x6mm MAGNUM porcelain panels unlock continuous verticality, allowing uninterrupted horizontal Pisé strata to span full-height residential volumes, commercial lobbies, and facades with minimal grout lines. Whilst the 600x1200x9mm format provides structural durability and slip resistance for high-traffic commercial settings and wet environments, expanding the use of Compatta for specifiers working within a tight brief.
Natural Rhythm. Total Specification Control.
Traditional rammed earth is unpredictable, climate-sensitive, and limited by local soil chemistry. Compatta replaces that volatility with absolute control, providing architects a reliable surface that can be specified anywhere from high-traffic commercial floors to exterior facades.
In Australian interiors where expansive glazing creates harsh lighting conditions, Compatta's 'micro-relief' profile absorbs direct sun rather than reflecting it as glare. The surface interacts naturally with shifting sunlight, maintaining depth and texture throughout the day without fading or flaking over time.
Certified under Florim's CarbonZero program, the collection is carbon neutral across its lifecycle, backed by B Corp manufacturing standards.
Federico Peri
Based in Milan, interior architect Federico Peri founded his studio in 2011 following studies at the European Institute of Design and a formative residency in Paris. His work is defined by understated linearity, material sincerity, and a rigorous dialogue between historical design masters and contemporary form.
Known for bespoke interiors and collectible furniture represented by Nilufar Gallery, Peri collaborates with leading international design houses including CEDIT, Baxter, and FontanaArte. Named among AD France’s top designers of the year and winner of the Elle Decor International Design Award (EDIDA), his approach balances architectural restraint with authentic Italian craftsmanship.