Anchor Tile
With a focus on the experience of touch and visual tactility, the Anchor tile range softened and warmed domestic environments and enriched commercial applications seeking a handmade aesthetic. Sunsetted in 2017, Anchor tiles were handmade in set formats in our Melbourne studio and combined design thinking, the studio glaze range and traditional tile making techniques.
The tile range included six series of tiles in set sizes, shapes and formats. Each series was carefully designed to allow the handmade nature of the tiled surface to be celebrated and to offer maximum flexibility in application and layout.
Every step of the tile production was undertaken by hand, making each tile a unique object. The clay was hand-rolled, hand-cut and dried carefully over time to prevent warping and cracking. The tiles were then bisque-fired and left to cool before the glaze was applied. They were then fired again to 1,280 degrees C to mature the clay body and glaze, which finalised the making process. The resulting formats produced a tiled surface rich in texture that celebrated the subtle variations of the hand.
The range of stoneware glaze finishes were created specifically for the Anchor tile range and were developed through a process of rigorous testing and refinement. Visually textured, each glaze finish produced a subtle variation of surface colour. The combination of different glaze colours and surface gloss levels allowed the tiles to be used across a diverse range of residential and commercial applications.
SERIES PRODUCED: 45 'Cut' Series // 100 Series // 100 'Cut' Series // 180 Series // 200 'Cut' Series // 200 'Half Cut' Series
PRODUCT TEAM // DESIGN: Bruce Rowe for Anchor // PRODUCTION: Bruce Rowe, Charles Waddell, Nadia Mercuri, Zena Dawson, Yesha McDonald, Angus Gardner // YEAR OF DESIGN: 2013 // PRODUCTION: 2013 - 2018
200 Cut Series, Terracotta. Wolveridge Architects, Ascot Veil House.
180 Series, Dove grey glaze. Fred's, Paddington.
100 Series, Charcoal glaze. Anthony Gill Architects, Waterloo House
180 Series, Custom glaze. Techne, Rooftop Bar, Melbourne
100 Series, Pale grey glaze. Austin Design Associates, Austin House.
200 Cut Series, Gloss grey glaze. Kart Projects, Mount Martha House.
Handmade in set formats in our Melbourne studio, Anchor tiles integrated design thinking, the studio glaze range and traditional tile making techniques. With a focus on the experience of touch and visual tactility, the range softened and warmed domestic environments and enriched commercial spaces.
PHOTOGRAPHY // Lead image: Kennedy Nolan Architects, Fitzroy Lane: Derek Swalwell // Ascot Veil: Derek Swalwell // Fred's: Mitch Lui // Waterloo House: Peter Bennetts // Rooftop Bar: Tom Blachford // Austin House: Derek Swalwell // Mount Martha: Tatjana Plitt // Integrated product and tile images: Lisa Cohen
Dimensions and colour representations are approximate and subject to change in the making process. Dimensional tolerance and colour compatibility should be considered at the design stage. Anchor reserves the right to alter these details without notice in compliance with its own production needs, technological changes or in response to other unforeseen factors. Anchor does not guarantee technical or dimensional accuracy or exact colour match for any products. © All designs and content are protected under copyright law. Anchor holds the exclusive design, manufacturing and distribution rights worldwide.