FRINGE BOLD WHITE - Indoor/outdoor porcelain stoneware wall/floor tiles by Mutina

Azulej by Patricia Urquiola

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Azulej is aimed at re-evaluating the memory of ancient handcrafted majolica and hydraulic cement, experimenting with an innovative printing technique aimed at mass distribution. This tradition – revisited in a contemporary way – is serially produced in a 20x20 cm format. The composition echoes the characteristics of the patchwork technique: an innovative, intentionally random mix and match, which combines abstract designs and unsaturated, neutral, barely consumed colours; colours that attach to the support material in a naturally irregular manner.

Bas-Relief by Patricia Urquiola

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Bas-Relief is a handmade collection where the ancient art of bas-relief becomes the protagonist, by being proposed in four different decorative patterns: three patterns just for wall covering in a 18x54 cm size and one for floor covering in a 26,5x18 cm size. Code is characterized by an austere and refined texture, expressed through a movement that repeats itself on the surface as a code; Patchwork consists of a mix and match of patterns that creates a constantly evolving design; in Garland, the flower element is revised with a contemporary and digital attitude; Cloud, the last one, is airy and light as a cloud, and it creates an abstract and constant design.

Botanica by Tokujin Yoshioka

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

With Botanica, Tokujin Yoshioka expresses once again his deep fascination for the natural world, its different characteristics and the poetry of its forms, designing the first Mutina mosaic specially developed for floors. The collection is produced in non-rectified glazed porcelain stoneware, with an innovative digital system for the dry application of glazes.

Chamotte by Patricia Urquiola

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Chamotte – which takes its name from the raw material made of crushed ceramic fragments, embedded in raw clay to strengthen ceramic mixtures – is a project dedicated to pure colour. The collection presents a range of surfaces with an artisanal taste and a tactile texture that enhances the natural beauty of ceramics, suitable for indoor spaces.

Chymia by Laboratorio Avallone

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Chymia evokes the alchemical process of transformation of raw material. The project come to life through the collaboration with Laboratorio Avallone, Milano-based studio led by Gennaro Avallone, whose’s research reaches into the applied arts, drawing on the arts of painting and sculpture to create unique and very special objects of contemporary furnishing. The collection consists of a series that fluctuates between the discipline of graphic design and the expressive gestures of mark-making as well as between the two extremes of black and white, in which symbols and textures are combined to create patterns of light and shadow on the surface. Black and white are never separate but co-exist.

Déchirer by Patricia Urquiola

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Déchirer was a breakthrough in the world of designer tiles. The use of Continua technology allowed to realise large slabs in unglazed porcelain stoneware, modular and single work-size, that can be used both on floors and walls. The bas-reliefs that elegantly cross the surface are barely visible; they are not mere decorations, but represent what remains of torn memories. The colour palette is composed by neutral tones that allow to create changeable spaces, harmonic and enchanting, yet able to keep a contemporary look.

Déchirer XL by Patricia Urquiola

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Déchirer XL comes from the idea of creating a surface inspired by the opacity of cement, always preserving its identity as a ceramic material, revolutionizing the field of designer ceramic tiles. Mutina has decided to celebrate the great success of this collection by re-proposing it in a new XL format, which allows the bas-reliefs to develop on a continuous surface. The Decor version is made in 100x300 cm format and has three colours: Gesso, Grafite and Avana. The slabs are made entirely with a mixture of unglazed porcelain stoneware (UGL) in the smallest thickness available (3 mm with fiber) and are perfectly suited to be used on walls, indoor and outdoor.

Diarama by Hella Jongerius

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Diarama comes from the desire of giving birth to a collection characterised by a wide range of chromatic shades, that come to light spontaneously and randomly by stratifying colours, as it happens in paintings. It’s a study about pure colour, applied on different ceramic basis like a second skin. The collection is made of glazed porcelain stoneware in a single format of 9,4x18,7 cm and is composed by various glazed chromatic references, applied on 7 different matte coloured clay bases.

DIN by Konstantin Grcic

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

DIN represents a complete new way of conceiving a modern mosaic. The collection is conceived in a strictly modular logic that allows to play with the elements and offers a wide scope of possible applications, from simple concepts to the most complex ones, demonstrating an almost unlimited flexibility.

Folded by Raw Edges

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Folded is inspired by traditional ceramic patterns that were – and still are – present in the Tel Aviv apartments of the Fifties and Sixties, played on repetition and chromatic alternation. Hence the desire to reproduce the effects of folded paper on a material such as ceramics, respecting the material characteristics and making use of specific peculiarities such as the possibility of melting it into unexpected shapes and outlines, creating elements in a single 60x60 cm format characterized by a palette of neutral and delicate tones.

Folded XL by Raw Edges

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Folded XL reproduces the effect of the folded paper of the original collection, but on large-size slabs – 100x300 cm with a thickness of 5,6 mm – suitable for floor and wall coverings, for indoors and outdoors. This new version is made entirely of an extra-white porcelain stoneware mixture, without the use of enamels and dyes.

Fringe by Michael Anastassiades

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Fringe – ornamental border made of threads or strips – is the first collection designed by Michael Anastassiades for Mutina. It is a tile divided into a series of parallel segments of two widths, directly engraved onto the surface. The pronounced grout spacing forms a “brick like” design and can be woven into multiple patterns through a simple interplay of a change in orientation. The result is a series of seamless carpets with or without borders which demarcate spaces, perfectly adapting to each environment.

Kosei by Vincent Van Duysen

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

With Kosei – which means composition in Japanese – Vincent Van Duysen proposes a range of ceramic surfaces developed with pure and tactile materials, inspired by lava rocks such as obsidian and volcanic glasses, which are homogeneous, amorphous and with exceptional hardness. The end result is a timeless design conceived for “grand” architecture, characterised by extreme versatility thanks to the 8 formats and 5 colours that can be matched to create infinite combinations with a progressively decorative taste.

Mater by Patricia Urquiola

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Mater – name that comes from materia, matter in Italian, which recalls the earth used to realise the neutral bases of the collection – is a project where glaze becomes the true protagonist, being applied with an innovative glazing technique which allowed for the creation of a tactile effect with great visual impact. It is an industrial collection able to convey the same sensations of an artisanal product, suitable for residential and commercial spaces, indoor and outdoor.

Mattonelle Margherita by Nathalie Du Pasquier

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

With Mattonelle Margherita, Mutina has worked with colour, along with the artist Nathalie Du Pasquier, creating a complex project featuring a blend of different aesthetic and formal means of expression. The collection is characterised by a dual concept: on the one hand, a simple, minimalist style and, on the other, a courageous, creative approach. The elements are created in glazed porcelain stoneware, deepening into a careful research about the glazes, in order to identify the most reactive, so as to give a bright, vibrant finish to the satin-effect surface.

Mews by Barber & Osgerby

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Mews, a term referring to the narrow alleys in London's historic centre with their unique and picturesque aesthetic, is inspired by urban landscape, history, and textures of the English capital. These details merge, creating pleasantly vibrant geometric compositions. The collection is the result of a long experimentation on colour, which led to the creation of a palette of nine shades: Chalk, Fog, Pigeon, Lead, Ink, Soot, Green, Light Blue and Pink, each of which is further divided into over 15 different tones, imparting a sense of depth and movement to the surfaces.

Phenomenon by Tokujin Yoshioka

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Phenomenon stems from the desire to incorporate natural phenomena and the laws of nature into a contemporary design project, not simply for reproducing their aspect but to evoke an emotion. The collection reminds of different expressions of natural patterns such as honeycombs, snowflakes, sticks of ice, plant cells, evoking memories of natural sceneries and individual experiences of the natural world. With the new edition of Phenomenon, the range is enriched with 3 new colours – Blu, Rosa and Verde – which join the 4 historical ones – Bianco, Grigio, Fango and Nero –, each of which is offered on all the available elements: Honeycomb A, Honeycomb B, Rock, Air, Wind, Rain A, Rain B e Rain C. The range also includes the new Phenomenon Glossy: the Honeycomb B, Rock and Rain A modules have been chosen to experiment the glossy finish for the first time, featuring the Bianco, Nero, Oro and Argento shades. The extremely small size of the tesserae has made it necessary to set up a new production process that combines industrial and craft approaches with the objective of making the finish stand out as much as possible.

Pico by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

While developing Pico, we have worked on defining a regular-irregular texture, declined in two surfaces: Down, with sunken dots, and Up, with elevated dots. To add dynamics, we also decided to use colours such as red and blue, applied as little dots in the hollow or as a base. With the new edition of Pico, the colours Blanc and Gris are joined by Argile, realised with the same materials and technology of the already existing variants, and Pico Satin which is obtained by using CONTINUA technology and a satin atomised glaze, that allow to get surface of absolute whiteness, soft and pleasant to the touch.

Primavera by Barber & Osgerby

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Primavera represents the contrast between the natural element and the artificial world, translated into ceramic. The designers have reproduced a slab that resembles a natural element with all its irregularities, perceptible to sight and touch, by throwing small coloured ceramic inserts in a completely random way, thus creating a unique and always different texture. Produced in unglazed porcelain stoneware, the tiles are available in sizes 120x240 cm, 120x120 cm and 60x60 cm and consist of five basic colours: Bianco, Grigio, Verde, Blu e Nero. With all its variations, delicately complementary and visually contrasting, the shade rage gives the interiors a modern and refined atmosphere.

Punto by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Developed from the concept that inspired Pico collection, Punto is a three-dimensional decorative element that can be used only on walls. The pattern is characterised by big sunken dots (Down) or elevated dots (Up) and finds its highest expression when used on large surfaces. Depending on how light hits the elements, they create unexpected chiaroscuro effects that enliven interiors. Both the Up and Down options are available in a single size of 4x31.5 cm, provided on meshes of five pieces each. The palette presents five colours in Matt finish (White, Grey, Red, Green and Blue) and five in the Glossy one (Blanc, Gris, Rose, Vert and Brun), which is obtained by applying a transparent, polished and bright glaze.

Puzzle by Barber & Osgerby

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Puzzle represents the freedom of giving birth to endless random combinations by pairing up graphic patterns with a modern and contemporary aesthetic, thus maximising the possibility of customisation of the interiors. It’s an unprecedented collection that allows to lay the elements (available in the size 25x25 cm) both horizontally and vertically, on floors and walls, following regular and abstract patterns. The colour combinations create refined effects, more or less intense, all along the surfaces, that communicates with the architecture and space elements.

Rombini by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Rombini is a journey made of ceramic vibration. The collection presents two different modules of great chromatic strength, that can be combined to give the interiors an architectural aesthetic: Losange, which recalls a contemporary mosaic and can be used on both floors and walls, and Triangle, a three-dimensional element specifically developed for walls. On the occasion of the new edition, the already existing variants Triangle Large and Small are joined by the new Extra Small format in the size 2x31.5 cm, as well as by a new Glossy finish in the colours Blanc, Gris, Rose, Vert and Brun, declined on the entire range.

Tape by Raw Edges

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Tape reproduces the illusion of rolls of colourful patterns that rest on the raw tiles, creating different settings and various atmospheres thanks to the vast number of possible combinations. The design consists of a first slight, almost imperceptible pattern on the base tile that evokes the chalky effect of the surfaces of the carreaux-ciment, and a range of eight patterns – that can be easily combined thanks to the base tiles, one white and one black – all in the five shades of the range: white, blue, green, brown and black. Tape is suitable for both floor and wall tiles, for indoor and outdoor use.

Teknotessere by Mutina Team

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Teknotessere represents modernity and simplicity, in the form of ceramic elements. The collection is made of small 1x1 cm tiles, geometric and essential, in five sober and refined colours: Bianco, Cemento, Nero and Fango. The minimalism of Teknotessere allows for it to be easily complimented with other Mutina collections in the same evironment, thus creating unique and unprecedented atmospheres.

Tex by Raw Edges

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Tex is a re-interpretation of textile textures, entirely ceramic. The shape of the tiles consists of a simplified enlargement of the basic knitted stitch and can be arranged in three main patterns, each of which can be declined in eight different colours: a mix inspired by the design of textiles, which re-creates the feel of the different tones of the yarn.  The production of Tex enhances the variety of the textures, the authenticity of colours and the quality of the glaze that, once applied on the surface, gives birth to irregular and more or less saturated light effects.

Tierras by Patricia Urquiola

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Tierras came about from the Mediterranean artisanal tradition and focuses on the concept of sedimentation, in order to create a collection where the elements seems to come from earth, marked by the hand of a man and the time passing by. It’s a re-interpretation of traditional craftsmanship, where different kind of terracotta and clays, chromatically matching with each other, combine and mix, enriching and softening the black base of recycled ceramics on which they deposit.

Time by Barber & Osgerby

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Time was conceived to commemorate a decade of collaboration between Mutina and Barber and Osgerby. It serves as an exploration of the natural weathering processes, where the recurrent actions of water and wind gradually erode and refine surfaces, shaping landscapes and evolving rugged features into sleek forms.

Bloc by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Bloc is a terracotta brick produced with the artisanship extrusion process. It’s a three-dimensional element conceived to build architectural and decorative structures. It features a Natural version and a palette of four shades – Pearl, Blue, Red and Grey – declined in both Matt and Glossy finishes. The glazed matt modules are obtained by using some paints from Mutina Accents, while the glossed ones came about from the application of a bright transparent ceramic glaze.

Brac by Nathalie Du Pasquier

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Brac is a brick exclusively designed by Nathalie Du Pasquier. It is a three-dimensional element in the size of 12.5x22x10 cm, imagined as versatile component for the creation of all sorts of structures and walls, where unexpected interplays of light and shadow come alive. Realised in extruded terracotta, the bricks that characterise the collection are real design elements that can be installed both vertically and horizontally, in residential and public interiors.

Celosia by Patricia Urquiola

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Celosia is a new take on the artisanal production process typical of terracotta with the aim of giving birth to imperfect and tactile elements that come from earth, marked by the hand of man and time passing by. Roof tiles, bricks, hollow bricks and partition walls are undone, unstructured and re-interpreted in a new way, keeping the traditional touch given by the handcrafted production. Aesthetically unique and extremely functional design elements are thus created, in the 20,5x26,5x10 cm nominal size. They allow limitless solutions for indoors and outdoors, in both commercial and residential spaces.

Hives by Konstantin Grcic

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Hives features one single module: an hexagonal brick handcrafted in extruded terracotta, an ancient material of which it preserves colour, texture and properties. It is a functional 3D element with an organic geometry, available in the size 13x22,5x7 cm.

Jali by Patricia Urquiola

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Jali – form of decoration typical of the Indian architecture, composed by perforated rocks with an ornamental motif, translated as grid – is a simple and functional terracotta brick with delicate shapes, conceived to build structures and decorative furnishings of various kind. The collection features a three-dimensional element in the size 24x12x24 cm, produced by extrusion, available in three colours: Neutro, the natural version, Nero and Bianco, with a glossy finish.

Mistral by Barber & Osgerby

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

With Mistral, Mutina continues its research on three-dimensional elements, abandoning what is the classic perception, in favor of a contemporary and innovative project. The collection was born from a reminiscence of the ancient architecture typical of the Italian countryside, from which the designers drew inspiration to design extremely innovative and highly functional elements. Mistral is composed of a single terracotta module handcrafted for casting, geometrically refined and proportioned, available in 12,5x25,5x12,5 cm sizes.

Renga by Vincent Van Duysen

Mutina > Floor tile-stone

Renga – a term used in Japanese culture to indicate a traditional form of poetry characterised by the alternation of long and short stanzas that can be literally translated as «chain poetry» – is the three-dimensional element designed by Vincent Van Duysen for Mutina, conceived as a brick with which to create partition walls, but also as a decorative object in its own right.

El Lobo by Patricia Urquiola

Mutina > Accessories

El Lobo is the result of the intuition of Patricia Urquiola: a single continuous line that traces the profile of a wild and free wolf howling at the moon. It’s a strongly symbolic animal, an expression of vitality, instinct and nature, characteristics which the designer has associated with Mutina’s own spirit and creative journey.

Yama by Vincent Van Duysen

Mutina > Accessories

In Japanese language, yama means mountain. This is how Vincent Van Duysen calls the new project forming part of Mutina Editions, an ode to the strength of nature and its transforming force. The architect has taken inspiration from the pebbles which, carried by the current of rivers flowing from the highland peaks to the valley, are shaped into soft, sensual shapes.

Paesaggi by Nathalie Du Pasquier

Mutina > Accessories

Paesaggi provides a range of artistic objects designed for interior decoration: three models declined in three colour options with a glossy finish, for a total of 9 unique pieces. The elements are composed of a 10 cm thick base – squared in the size 40x40 cm, rectangular in the size 40x60 cm and rounded with a diameter of 40 cm – on which a composition of geometric shapes come to life. These components present rich hues – black, white, green, red, yellow and pink –, used individually for the variants in solid colour or combined with each other in the polychrome ones.

Rombini Vases by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

Mutina > Styling

With Rombini Vases, Mutina adds a new, significative collaboration within the world of auteur interiors. The ceramic vases, designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and produced in collaboration with Bitossi, are made to be paired with the collections of the brand as well as providing new stimuli for interior decoration.

Rivington Tables by Barber & Osgerby

Mutina > Table

Rivington Tables derives its name from the Rivington Bar & Grill Restaurant in London. Situated in close proximity to Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby’s studio, this establishment quickly became a favourite meeting spot with the Mutina team. The project celebrates not only the infinite expressive potential of ceramics but also a decade of collaboration with the company.

The Cylinder Glass by Laboratorio Avallone

Mutina > Accessories

The Cylinder Glass is the first limited edition project by Mutina, that came about from the synergy with Laboratorio Avallone. It is the result of a specific research focused on a new material, glass, and takes shape in the furnaces of Murano.

FRINGE BOLD WHITE - Indoor/outdoor porcelain stoneware wall/floor tiles

Mutina > Wall tile-stone-brick

Limestone Wall

Marazzi Group > Wall tile-stone-brick

Thin Wall Coverings Limestone Wall, available in 3 colours − Ivory, Sand and Taupe − on a 40x120 size combines the ancient look of stone with a design characterised by a natural, minimalist surface pattern. The Mikado 3D structure, available in all colours, expands the collection’s decorative possibilities. The Agrifoglio decor, a natural theme available on Ivory and Taupe plain tiles, and the geometric Losanga decor are made with Touch technology, which enriches the surface with the addition of glossy and matt vitreous grits, adding depth and realistic texture.

Fabula Wall

Marazzi Group > Wall tile-stone-brick

Marble effect cladding and 3D decorations Marble is renowned as the embodiment of elegance and purity. Now its most neutral varieties, the whites with their sophisticated veining and the warmer beiges, are reinterpreted in contemporary style in a very tactile porcelain stoneware collection in which use of the 3D Ink technology makes every piece unique and gives the veins both depth and shine. The matching Fabula Wall selection of wall coverings features tactile decors and three-dimensional structures.

Alchimia

Marazzi Group > Wall tile-stone-brick

Slimline XL Size wall tiles Latest-generation production technology and unusual extra-large sizes for the Alchimia collection, the new Marazzi slimline wall covering with a tactile character and simple elegance. Inspired by micro-cements, materials with a particularly fine grain and sandy inclusions that create a striking bright micropixel effect, Alchimia comes in four neutral shades and two 3D structures: Raw, which creates a kind of trowel-levelled look on the surface and Tide, with the distinctive formwork look. The cement tiles of Boho, the geometric motifs of Arky and the highly coloured flowers of Gipsy, the decor modules of Alchimia allow this collection to be interpreted in a variety of ways.

Carácter

Marazzi Group > Wall tile-stone-brick

Antibacterial Stone Effect Porcelain Stoneware Porcelain stoneware with a luminous consistency featuring an innovative stone look. Carácter is a collection for indoor and outdoor floors with a dual personality: understated and minimalist, in the Blanco, Arena and Greige colours, and with a bold character in the same number of colour variants ranging from grey to brown, including pebbles in different shapes, sizes and colours that characterize the surface. The result is a material that is soft to the touch, enhanced with the advanced StepWise anti-slip solution. Seamless design, great expressive potential and an eco-friendly approach – 40% of the product is made of recycled material. Carácter coverings complete the collection with an eclectic decorative range. Outstanding performance and the exceptional antibacterial, hygienic and surface protection properties of Puro technology. A product which, boasting multiple sizes and surfaces, expresses discreet, versatile elegance with a natural and trendy style.

Fresco

Marazzi Group > Wall tile-stone-brick

Plaster Effect Ceramic Tiles The beauty of plaster and the simplicity of ceramics unite in the new 32,5x97,7 cm Marazzi Fresco wall tiles, in the 6 mm thickness. The collection is distinctive for its textured appearance and colour variations and offers a contemporary twist on plaster applied in multiple layers and at different times with a palette of 5 neutral shades, enriched with 3D structures, mosaics and decors.

Pottery

Marazzi Group > Wall tile-stone-brick

Glossy Tiles for Bathrooms and Kitchen Pottery is the new Marazzi wall covering inspired by the majolica ware of the ceramic tradition. A single size of 25x76 cm and seven elegantly individual colours for reinterpreting the tradition of the past in contemporary taste. One three-dimensional structure, one decor Azulejo and one 30x30cm mosaic extend the collection’s design potential, making it ideal for residential interiors with a strong personality

Rice

Marazzi Group > Wall tile-stone-brick

Glossy finish and irregular surfaces A glossy finish and intentionally irregular surfaces evoke the sensations of handmade products. Three modular sizes - 15x15, 5x15 and 7.5x20 cm - with straight edges to enable spaceless installation. A neutral palette - Bianco, Natural and Grigio - with hints of Blu combine with three motifs inspired by nature, creating multiple compositions with a unique character.

Stream

Marazzi Group > Wall tile-stone-brick

The stone effect that recalls traditional marble chip tiles The Stream collection combines surfaces inspired by natural stone for floor and wall coverings, offered in 5 colours with a delicate look and in 60x120, 75x75, 60x60, 45x45 and 30x60 sizes, the last of which is also available for outdoor surfaces. 2 different wall covering sizes, 25x76 and 20x50, enhanced by 2 three-dimensional structures and decorations with geometric patterns, are a perfect match for porcelain stoneware floors.

Triennale

Marazzi Group > Wall tile-stone-brick

Architectural Ceramic Tiles Since its earliest beginnings, Triennale has been an anthem to modularity and flexibility: a simple element that uses an inspired interlocking mechanism to alternate gaps and solids, vertical and horizontal alignments, straight lines and curves. Today, these potentials are extended by new versions, where colour takes centre stage in glossy and matt, contrasting or tone-on-tone variants. Playful and versatile, Triennale can be adopted on any surface, leaving its user free to decide the complexity and depth of the interlocking structure and its language. Custom Project on all the products and technologies in the catalogue

White Deco

Marazzi Group > Wall tile-stone-brick

Wall Tile Multicolor Floral Decorations Different languages and styles meet on a soft, satiny, semi-matt white surface to create the versatile, timeless Vision geometrical motif and attractive floral decors. These are Botanica, inspired by a neat, colourful herbarium, the elegant, subtle Heyday, the lush tropical pattern of Jungle, Roseto, a floral design with colourful, vibrant backgrounds and Frond the tropical wild side, tempered by white floral motifs. The details of the colours and patterns, in slight relief, are illuminated with a bright, delicate consistency thanks to the innovative Touch technology, which makes all these decors suitable for installation even in the shower area.

Zellige

Marazzi Group > Wall tile-stone-brick

Handcrafted-effect tiles North African tradition meets industrial ceramics. The hand-crafted look tiles in the Zellige series are produced in 12 shades with glossy finish and visible variations in tone. Random installation creates a blend effect, in which the colours vibrate strongly.