Plumage x Alfonso Femia
From the visible to the invisible: how Plumage frees ceramics from imitative logic to create a pure perceptual experience.
"Plumage, in three words for us, is: visible, invisible, a sense of sensuality". — Alfonso Femia
A collection that reveals itself to those who know how to observe
Plumage is one of the ceramic collections by Atelier Mirage, designed by Alfonso Femia to explore the relationship between light, surface, and perception through a deeply tactile and sensory approach.
More than just a surface, Plumage is an invitation to observe closely: to perceive what is visible and invisible, to rediscover the hidden three-dimensionality behind the apparent simplicity of form.
The collection gradually reveals itself to the observer, allowing details and nuances to emerge and change depending on the light and the viewing angle.
More than just a surface, Plumage is an invitation to observe closely: to perceive what is visible and invisible, to rediscover the hidden three-dimensionality behind the apparent simplicity of form.
The collection gradually reveals itself to the observer, allowing details and nuances to emerge and change depending on the light and the viewing angle.
From the world of feathers to the ceramic surface
"The surface sought to express that condition which appeals to the gaze and attention of the individual". — Alfonso Femia
The inspiration comes from the world of feathers
The inspiration comes from the world of feathers: natural elements of extraordinary technological complexity, capable of adapting, changing, and transforming with movement.
The design challenge was to translate this complexity onto a ceramic surface while preserving the perceptual refinement of the natural element.
Femia, together with Mirage, studied how to interpret in ceramic language the feathers’ ability to gradually reveal their three-dimensional structure, creating surfaces that interact with light in ever-changing ways.
The design challenge was to translate this complexity onto a ceramic surface while preserving the perceptual refinement of the natural element.
Femia, together with Mirage, studied how to interpret in ceramic language the feathers’ ability to gradually reveal their three-dimensional structure, creating surfaces that interact with light in ever-changing ways.
"The result is extraordinary: technology fades away, making room for emotion in the relationship with the material through its refraction with light". – Alfonso Femia
The art of revealing complexity through simplicity.
Plumage is designed to be discovered gradually.
Its sophisticated three-dimensionality reveals itself to the attentive eye, through a play of reflections and tactile variations that create a multisensory experience.
Through advanced decoration processes, the surface generates micro-reliefs that alter the perception of space throughout the day.
It’s not just design, it’s a system of light modulation that transforms the environment based on lighting conditions.
Its sophisticated three-dimensionality reveals itself to the attentive eye, through a play of reflections and tactile variations that create a multisensory experience.
Through advanced decoration processes, the surface generates micro-reliefs that alter the perception of space throughout the day.
It’s not just design, it’s a system of light modulation that transforms the environment based on lighting conditions.
A color palette designed for architecture.
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Water, Sky, Light
The collection is structured around five main shades, formulated to ensure color consistency under different lighting conditions:
Neige – chalk white for maximum light reflection
Perle – pearl grey for neutral and sophisticated spaces
Fleur – blush pink for wellness-oriented interiors
Menthe – aqua green for contract and hospitality environments
Océan – deep blue for characterful residential projects
Each color is inspired by natural elements (water, sky, light) and enables endless combinations while maintaining strong aesthetic and design coherence.
Neige – chalk white for maximum light reflection
Perle – pearl grey for neutral and sophisticated spaces
Fleur – blush pink for wellness-oriented interiors
Menthe – aqua green for contract and hospitality environments
Océan – deep blue for characterful residential projects
Each color is inspired by natural elements (water, sky, light) and enables endless combinations while maintaining strong aesthetic and design coherence.
Design Visions: the story of Alfonso Femia
The video interview with Alfonso Femia narrates the conceptual and formal genesis of the Plumage collection, exploring the dialogue between material, light, and perception that guided the development of the project.
Through his story, the architect shares the vision that led to the creation of ceramic surfaces capable of evoking emotion, suggesting a new way of understanding cladding: no longer mere decoration, but a sensory experience.
A new centrality for ceramic material
In Plumage, design becomes a surface that tells a story—through its structure and interaction with light—of a new way of perceiving. Every detail is conceived to express the material in its most authentic form, going beyond mere decoration.
The project restores deep centrality to ceramics, transforming it into an active element of space. Unlike the dominant approach in the industry—which replicates wood, stone, concrete, and marble—Plumage brings ceramics back to its original vocation: an autonomous material with its own expressive language.
Plumage embodies the philosophy of Atelier Mirage: a vision that blends experimentation, design culture, and material sensitivity, giving life to a respectful, sophisticated collection capable of transcending traditional cladding conventions.
The project restores deep centrality to ceramics, transforming it into an active element of space. Unlike the dominant approach in the industry—which replicates wood, stone, concrete, and marble—Plumage brings ceramics back to its original vocation: an autonomous material with its own expressive language.
Plumage embodies the philosophy of Atelier Mirage: a vision that blends experimentation, design culture, and material sensitivity, giving life to a respectful, sophisticated collection capable of transcending traditional cladding conventions.
Applications and technical specifications
Available formats: 60×120 cm | 60×60 cm
Thicknesses: 6mm (flooring) | 3.5mm (wall coverings)
Ratings: PEI IV for flooring | Class 3 for wall coverings
Application areas:
• Luxury residential (master bathrooms, living areas)
• Contract hospitality (lobbies, spas, suites)
• Wellness and spa environments
• High-end retail and showroom spaces
Plumage represents a mature approach to technical ceramics—where design research meets material sensitivity to create spaces of genuine architectural quality.
Thicknesses: 6mm (flooring) | 3.5mm (wall coverings)
Ratings: PEI IV for flooring | Class 3 for wall coverings
Application areas:
• Luxury residential (master bathrooms, living areas)
• Contract hospitality (lobbies, spas, suites)
• Wellness and spa environments
• High-end retail and showroom spaces
Plumage represents a mature approach to technical ceramics—where design research meets material sensitivity to create spaces of genuine architectural quality.