Created for the 2009 Milan Design Week by London-based practice Amanda Levete, Corian Super-Surfaces is both a demonstration of the versatility of the material and a usable space for multiple contexts. DuPont Corian is a solid surface material with long-term performance, used both in the home and in different commercial environments including hotels, healthcare, retail and marine.
The jury, chaired by Lorenzo Apicella commented, “The architect has pushed the boundaries of what this material can do in both form and structure. In many ways, they have recast the possibilities Corian affords the designer. We see Corian as a poetic and sensual material as much as a practical and utilitarian one.”
Corian can be carved, routed or worked like wood, molded, thermoformed or inlayed. For this project, AL_A articulated Corian as a collection of dynamic surfaces – moving away from more typical Corian installations where the material is expressed as a monolithic solid.
A drop of water creating a series of ripples became the metaphor for transforming space through movement. Just as the ripple causes intricate patterns in water, Corian Super Surfaces is used to reveal the moment of change through visual complexity.
Lighting was made integral to the displays, animating both space and product. Color was also used expressively, woven into walls, shelves, tables and seating to create a sensuous interior envelope.
