Ábaco: A Contemporary Take on the 10×10 Tile by Decocer

Minimal, tactile, and highly versatile—Ábaco turns grids, grout, and geometry into powerful design tools.

Decocer’s Ábaco collection reinterprets the traditional 10×10 cm format through a contemporary lens—precise, serene, and deeply expressive. As its name suggests, the collection draws inspiration from the order and harmony of this ancestral calculating tool, turning each piece into a module capable of generating infinite rhythms, patterns, and atmospheres.

Crafted in matte porcelain stoneware, Ábaco enables the creation of sober, tactile, and functional surfaces. Its soft and balanced palette—from whites, sands, and earthy tones to greys, greens, and blacks—allows for clean, timeless compositions with very clear graphic readability. The uniform color of each piece supports precise layouts and stable patterns, providing calm backgrounds reinforced by the rhythm of the grid and its modularity.

A module that organizes space

The 10×10 format makes it easy to work with precise patterns, grids, and clear compositions. Its human scale and intuitive modularity allow for controlled visual reading of surfaces, strengthening directions or creating smooth transitions between areas.

Ábaco integrates naturally into residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, maintaining a balance between aesthetic restraint and functionality. The number of possible compositions multiplies, making it possible to shift from the calmest minimalism to configurations full of rhythm and character.

Eight colors, endless atmospheres

The full palette includes: Blanc, Sand, Linen, Cotto, Pewter, Flora, Austral, and Nero.
Each shade has been developed to dialogue with the others, expanding chromatic possibilities and reinforcing project coherence—from soft combinations that bring serenity to bold contrasts that make a clear architectural statement. 

The grout as an architectural tool

One of Ábaco’s key expressive features is the role of grout in how the surface is perceived.
Depending on the chosen shade, the surface may appear monolithic and quiet—when the grout closely matches the tile—or become a marked, highly graphic grid when contrast is emphasized. This versatility allows designers to control the intensity of the design without modifying the composition, adapting it to more serene or more expressive atmospheres. In this way, grout becomes a creative tool that amplifies the collection’s potential from a deeper architectural perspective.

Choosing a grout color that differs from the tile redraws the grid, emphasizing the modular rhythm and reinforcing the sense of geometric order.

Conversely, using a grout tone similar to the piece produces smoother, more continuous surfaces—ideal for projects seeking calm, neutrality, or a greater perception of spaciousness.

Technical rigor at the service of design

Ábaco combines a refined aesthetic with solid performance, suitable for spaces requiring reliable and versatile materials. Its porcelain nature makes it suitable for both walls and floors, indoors or outdoors, while maintaining a coherent and continuous reading throughout the project.

A module that invites new ways of thinking about space

Ábaco does not seek to impose—it organizes, accompanies, accentuates. It is a collection that integrates into contemporary architecture without noise, with a strong yet silent presence. A resource that enables designers to project from logic, aesthetics, and sensation.