Ilshin Stone opens an approximately 165.2㎡ showroom on Hakdong-ro in Gangnam-gu, expanding points of contact with general consumers
Ilshin Stone Co., Ltd. (CEO Kim Hak-seon), a distributor of premium building materials, opened the Gangnam showroom of the Italian premium tile brand ‘INFINITY’ on Hakdong-ro in Gangnam-gu on July 7.
The opening ceremony was attended by Ilshin Stone CEO Kim Hak-seon and the company’s executives, along with Luigi Corbelli, CEO of Italy’s Infinity, Fabrizio Coppete, Asia Marketing Director, Lee Ju-hee, CEO of Living Art Co., Ltd., Kwon Hyuk-jun, Chairman of Minye Co., Ltd., and officials from construction and interior companies.
In his address, CEO Kim Hak-seon said, “For 51 years, Ilshin Stone has run its stone business with the mission of supplying the world’s finest stone to Korea, and our goal is to build the nation’s leading brand in the building-materials distribution industry through nature-friendly products, original designs, and effective service.” He added, “Taking note of the global phenomenon in which the boundary between stone and ceramic products has been rapidly disappearing over the past five years, and wishing to actively take part in this current of change, we began distributing Italy’s Infinity Big Slab products in earnest in 2020. This showroom opening will serve as an opportunity to further expand our points of contact with general consumers.”
‘Infinity,’ the Italian manufacturer of porcelain big slab tiles, was founded in Fiorano in 1969. It is a subsidiary that brings together the technological capabilities of the Concord Group, one of the largest ceramics specialist groups in Italy; the Concord Group has a history of more than 50 years and records annual revenue of over 2 trillion won.
The Infinity Gangnam showroom, Infinity’s Korean showroom, spans approximately 165.2㎡ (about 50 pyeong) and is built around the concept of displaying premium living spaces finished with Italian eco-friendly porcelain big slab. The showroom is arranged into five areas: two kitchen spaces, a bathroom, an info desk, and an art wall. The porcelain tiles that make up the showroom come in a big-size format of 1600×3200㎜, and are applied in a variety of thicknesses ranging from a compact 6㎜ to 12㎜ and 20㎜. The Infinity showroom helps consumers understand the products by faithfully expressing the sense of space and the beauty that residents can feel when big slab porcelain tiles are applied to a space. In addition, various lineups from Infinity are displayed as sample boards in the showroom, allowing visitors to experience a wide range of products in one place.
Infinity products faithfully reproduce the patterns of the finest natural stone on 1600×3200㎜ big slabs, delivering a satisfaction that feels even more like natural stone than natural stone itself. When used for art walls, kitchen countertops, and the like, they offer functionality and aesthetic impact that surpass the limitations of natural stone. Ilshin Stone explained, “Until just a few years ago, ceramic products of around 600×600㎜ or 600×1200㎜ counted as large sizes, but with advances in technology it has become possible to produce a single sheet in a format as large as 1600×3200㎜.” The company added, “Infinity has realized the patterns and textures of a full natural-stone slab size (typically 1400×2800㎜) that conventional ceramics could not achieve, offering a practical and reasonable alternative that can replace expensive natural stone that was previously hard to access.” 02-2041-2525
▲ Exterior view of Ilshin Stone’s Infinity Gangnam showroom
▲ Infinity ‘Panda White’ applied to an art wall This faithfully reproduces a carefully selected, top-quality slab of Panda White, a premium natural stone. Used as an art wall in a living room, it gives the impression of having brought a work of art into the home. Sofa table ‘Milan Stone’
▲ Infinity ‘Magellano’ applied to a kitchen This product reproduces the premium natural stone ‘Patagonia’ and carries the image of the rugged nature of the Patagonia region at the southernmost tip of South America. It is applied to furniture such as the kitchen countertop, kitchen doors, and drawer units, and in particular the island sink is fitted with a concealed induction cooktop. Combined with the characteristics of Infinity products, which are manufactured at high temperatures, the hidden induction enhances the completeness of the kitchen interior and makes cleaning easy after cooking.
▲ Infinity ‘Atlantis Grey’ applied to the info desk and point wall, and ‘Classic Statuario’ applied to the dining table
▲ Infinity ‘Calacatta Hermitage’ applied to a kitchen This product is inspired by Calacatta, the white marble that represents Italy. Calacatta marble, with its distinctive veining on a milky-white background, can command millions of won per square meter. Infinity Calacatta Hermitage has the effect of replacing natural stone, and when used for an art wall or kitchen countertop, it can make a space even more luxurious.
▲ Infinity ‘Atlantis’ applied to an art wall & wall With a somewhat weighty feel, it can be used as a wall in office spaces for a stable, reassuring design.
▲ Ilshin Stone CEO Kim Hak-seon poses for a commemorative photo with Luigi Corbelli (left), CEO of Italy’s Infinity, and Fabrizio Coppete, Asia Marketing Director.