As the way people live changes, architects and designers are rediscovering that one of the most powerful materials in any space has been there all along: natural light.
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Luxury has always reflected the way people live. There was a time when it was measured by size. Bigger homes. More elaborate finishes. Materials that made a statement the moment someone walked through the front door. That definition is changing.
Today, some of the world’s most admired spaces do not feel extravagant at all. They feel calm. Comfortable. Personal. They have been designed less to impress visitors than to improve the experience of the people who live, work or spend time in them.
As life changes, so does design. Kitchens have become gathering spaces. Homes have become offices. Restaurants are expected to create memorable experiences. Hotels are designed to make guests feel something, not simply provide somewhere to sleep.
How will this space be lived in?
The question facing architects and designers is increasingly, “How will this space be lived in?”
According to Luigi Corbelli, Managing Director of Italian porcelain surface manufacturer Infinity, that question sits at the heart of every new colour range the company develops. “People often ask us where new Infinity colours come from. They expect us to say trends, technology or fashion. But that’s never where the conversation begins. It begins with people. How are people living today? How are families gathering? How are restaurants creating experiences? How are architects pushing boundaries? Because life changes. And great design changes with it.”
That philosophy changes the role of materials. They are no longer simply expected to look beautiful. They need to become part of everyday life.
One of the biggest influences on that experience is something designers can never completely control. Natural light. It changes from hour to hour. Morning creates a different atmosphere from late afternoon. Summer light behaves differently from winter light. As it moves through a space, every surface begins to reveal something different. Texture becomes more pronounced. Veining emerges. Warmth appears where there was shadow only moments before. The material hasn’t changed. The experience has.
The beauty of a surface is revealed over time
“For many years, the industry focused on what a surface looked like in a showroom,” says Vuyokazi Mhlophe, Head of Marketing at Interslab, Infinity’s exclusive Southern African distributor. “But people don’t live in showrooms. They live in homes where the light changes from morning to evening, where seasons change and where everyday life unfolds. The real beauty of a surface is revealed over time.”
The collection introduces eight new Infinity porcelain surfaces to the Southern African market
- Orobico Luxe reveals warmth, depth and intricate veining as light moves across its dramatic surface.
- Arabescato Diva combines dramatic veining, golden detail and a quiet elegance that becomes more luminous throughout the day.
- Santos brings together tranquil greens and vibrant mineral tones, creating a surface that feels like a natural landscape continually reimagined by light.
- Onyx White uses translucence, soft layers and golden veining to allow light to become part of the design itself.
- Andromeda draws inspiration from the night sky, with fine mineral veins that emerge from a deep and mysterious surface like distant stars.
- Cammeo brings together soft blush, blue and ivory tones in a layered composition where every fragment responds differently to light.
- Taj Mahal reveals gentle golden tones, warmth and texture slowly and quietly as the day unfolds.
- Ceppo Romano combines fragments of different character and depth, celebrating the richness and beauty found in the layers left behind by time.
Together, the eight surfaces reflect Infinity’s belief that great materials should do more than define the appearance of a space. They should enrich the way people experience it.
