Surfaces Reporter June 2015 preview

e d i t o r i a l | vertica@surfaces.in

Photo: Piero Mancheni Product displayed: Natuzzi leather sofa, Milan

Special100 I love to travel, enjoy different local cuisine, and to observe life. And it is no exaggeration to express that I derive similar pleasure, almost equal to the combination of all three things put together while visiting Design shows like Milan. And why not? Thousand of designs from different designers with varied backgrounds, living styles, approaches, thought-processes, inspiration, expertise, culture, countries, and ideas, are placed together at one place with their best pieces and collections!

On top of that, the charm of meeting and talking to some of my favorite designers adds icing to the cake.

Altogether, it is a great festival time with surprises waiting to be unveiled whichever direction you take.

Having visited so many shows, and trying my hands on different forms of design, I can say that there is nothing called ‘Good design’ or ‘Bad design’. There is just ‘Design’ or not at all. Having said that I wish to present the 100 plus designs picked from Milan. Please note, we do not claim to have selected the best or perfect 100, however, these are the series of 100 best among several other sets of beautiful 100s! Dealing with 1000+ designs in a matter of 15-20 days is both exhaustive & complex. We beg your apology in advance for any unintentional mistake or if some relevant information is missing.

While muted tones are ruling the colour charts this year, I have observed extensive 3D reinforcement work on furniture surfaces for taking design to the next dimension. At the same time, plain look with a simple touch of an idea, is also high on agenda. You will see a lot of both examples in the following pages. The best part however is the ever-growing design collaborations between artisans, material experts, and more.

I feel, expertise exchange is geared to revolutionize the art world in a big way! A grand celebration like that of Salone del Mobile is the result of such partnerships.

100 designs aside, we take you to the all-new world of Digitizing Retail stores, a special story on Big & Slim panels, Engineered wood flooring & more.

Lastly, after 100 designs from Milan, SURFACES REPORTER is bringing out 200+ DESIGNS with maximum contribution from India, followed by the world, in our ANNUAL COLLECTORS EDITION. Submit your products & projects at press@surfaces.in

MAY 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 6

CONTENT Showcase 27-92 16 News Bulletin

52 Pleasure of Guilt by Koket

27 Milan Design Week- Editor’s pick 100 designs

53 As if from nowhere! -Orla Reynolds

30 Furniture & accessories made from actual Aircraft parts! -Art In Motion

54 FINIUM ‘s Hardwood panels

34 Evolving workplace solutions!

-The Senator Group

68 Black Diamond luxury safe -Boca Do Lobo 69 Sliced Table Arredamenti

55 Zaha Hadid for citco

70 Imagine!!! How 3d Printing

can Cha nge the world of architecture? designs by Steve Ma

56 The sound of Concrete -Ivanka Concrete 57 Tavolo “Fenice” - Solid & beautiful, yet light

36 A hand to sit on! -RIVA 1920 38 Vitruvian Man in Marble by Ar. Bernard Khoury -Margraf

58 Future Flowers by Oikos

40 Wall-less office by Fantoni

60 Hand designed surfaces by Domiziani

41 Colourful Accoustic Panels -Johanson

61 Maison Valentina Luxury Bathrooms available @Covet Lounge

42 Everlasting wood -Snob by Fabio Dainelli, Brianza

62 ‘Living the office’ -Uffix

44 Uniquely different -Bitangra

63 Good Vibrations -FerruccioLaviani 64 A special cupboard design seen@ kare Marble Marvel -Baldessarie & Baldessari 65 Phillip Grass Design by Danish Living Made on mosaics- Mosaics Donà 66 Ply Magic -Christoph Friedrich Wagner Monochrome Blue Console from Boca do Lobo 67 Lights inspired by Human forms -Pietro Travaglini Design “Venezia” table -VG

46 Carbon & Kevlar furniture by Formitalia 47 48 49 50

Cantu Gaffuri

72 Luxe Collection by Torini Lamborghini 73 A huge table with aquarium!

74 Wooden Aquarelle -Meike Harde 75 Furniture by Ashton Martin 76. Interior Concepts -Guadarte 82 Interior Concepts -Gautier 84 Interior Concepts -Formitalia 86 Giorgio’s Sunrise Luxury

Office collection

88 Some chair designs from Milan

FACES FINDER

29 Ar. Daniel Libeskind

Studio Daniel Libeskind, New York

28 Marcel Wanders

Celebrity Designer, Amsterdam

70 Steven Ma

Xuberance, Principal designer, China

Interior Designer ANSA Interiors, New Delhi

Meike Harde

Meike Harde Studio, Germany

101 Ar. Manish Kumat

Abhikalpan Architects Pvt. Ltd., Indore

121 Sapna Aggarwal

28

Principal, AKDA, New Delhi

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 10

Orla Reynolds

Award Winning Designer, Dublin

121 Ar. Zubin Zainuddin

99 Ar. Ninad Tipnis

ZZ Architects, Mumbai

120 Ar. Amit Khanna

29

JTCPL, Mumbai

120 Apporv Singh & Manishi Aggarwal Principals, Design Cosmos, Gurgaon

121 Rahul Gupta

Interior Designer, 9th Corner Inc., New Delhi

CONTENT in Visual- I Oh my!!!

Where am I?

39

30

An aircraft or an interior?

64

More than 100 exciting designs picked from the Milan show exclusively by Surfaces Reporter magazine!

36 67 JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 12

CONTENT in Visual- II

93 10-on-10 with DuPontTM Know from Rajeev A. Vaidya (President of DuPont Building Innovations) & team, what makes the 200+ years company so innovative & foresighted!

Ummnn...

Why didn’t I find this before!?

57

105 Does size matter?

55 98 How digital technology is transforming the world of retail?

58 JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 14

112 Why choose Engineered Flooring?

Bulletin

Subscribe to Ensure regular issues!

MATERIAL made from AIR pollutANTS!

9 standard issues & 3 collector editions.

Applications & Functionality focused on:

Mark Herrema shows off a chair that’s made from AirCarbon

September 2014

Vol.4-Issue-4, September 2014

11, May 2015

Focus

AirCarbon™ is made by combining air with methane-based carbon emissions-carbon that would otherwise become part of the air we breathe-to produce a material that is approximately 40% oxygen from air and 60% carbon and hydrogen from captured methane emissions by weight.

Green houses gases are a major environmental concern today. Despite much hue and cry over the treatment of smoke before releasing it into the atmosphere, nothing significant has been done so far. In this scenario, AirCarbon™ seems as a viable solution. A plastic created with the pollutants released in the air, the technology is developed by ‘Newlight Technologies’, Irvine, USA and is much cheaper than the currently available oil-based plastics.

AirCarbon™ is made by combining air with methane-based carbon emissions – carbon that would otherwise become part of the air we breathe–to produce a material that is approximately 40% oxygen from air and 60% carbon and hydrogen from captured methane emissions by weight.

The secret of AirCarbon™ lies in a biocatalyst that combines air and methane, and reassembles all of the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen molecules into AirCarbon. Talking about it, Mark Herrema, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, says, “Prior to Newlight, the cost to produce polymers from methane emissions was about 2 to 3 times higher than the cost to produce oil-based plastics. Unfortunately, very few companies can afford to use a material at that price level. So, our founding challenge was: how do we carry out this process in such a way where we can outcompete oil-based plastics on price? Ultimately, our key breakthrough was our biocatalyst.

Specifically, in the past, all biocatalysts were self-limiting, meaning that they could only make a certain amount of polymer before they would turn themselves off and make JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 18



carbon dioxide instead of polymer. Numerically, to make one kilogram of plastic, you needed to make one kilogram of biocatalyst, and that was the maximum yield, which rendered the production cost very expensive.

Over the course of about ten years of work, we developed a new kind of biocatalyst that does not turn itself off.

Every kilogram of biocatalyst we make produces about nine kilograms of polymer- nine times more material for the same input than previous options, enabling Newlight to manufacture polymer from greenhouse gases at a price point that features a double-digit percentage cost reduction compared to the cost to produce plastics from oil.”

AirCarbon™ is able to meet the performance requirements of a wide range of applications, including applications currently using fossil fuel-based polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS, polystyrene, and TPU. AirCarbon™ can be used in extrusion, blown film, cast film, thermoforming, fiber spinning, and injection molding applications. Since Newlight’s commercial scale-up, AirCarbon has been used in a number of products, including chairs from KI (Winner of TOP 10 GREEN PRODUCTS” AWARD AT GREENBUILD 2014), bags from Dell and cell phone cases from Sprint. AirCarbon has also won the Popular Science Innovation of the Year award.

AirCarbon™ has been independently-verified on a cradleto-grave basis as a carbon-negative material, including all energy, materials, transportation, product use, and end-oflife/disposal associated with the material.







   

   

   

 All subscription for two years or more will get a

FER

OF



Four GB PenDrive absolutely free!  Hurry! Offer valid till 25th June, 2015.

 * For out-of-India subscription of Print magazine, please write to office@surfaces.In

Existing subscribers will get the es 4 additional issu at /25 16 worth Rs.

NO EXTRA COST!

Pay Online through www.surfaces.in or send cheque/DD to: Surfaces Subscription Department, Bigsea Marcom (I) Pvt. Ltd., F-1118, LGF, Chittranjan Park, New Delhi-110019, 011-41681395

Subscribe with smile. A part of your subscription amount goes to help some unfortunate children realize their dreams.

The recent Earthquake in Nepal, striking of HudHud cyclone, flash flood in Kedarnath what was common among all? The answer is, massive forces of nature threw life upside down resulting in loss of both, wealth and life.

While the Hud Hud cyclone caused close to fifty lives and has put Vizag almost 25 years behind leaving close to 400,000 people affected, more than 8500 people died in Nepal making it the top spot in the number of deaths by earthquake in Himalayn region. It has been 10 years since Tsunami hit our coasts which killed almost 230,000 in 14 countries.

We have seen a series of devastations recently in which our Buildings which provide us Shelter & Safety, have turned into life threatening death traps.

SURFACES REPORTER Questioned & spoke to experts about: 88

Solutions to make existing buildings more resistant.

88

During the Hud Hud cyclone, the whole roof of Vizag airport went flying. What was behind that vulnerability?

88

What should we learn from Japan where earthquakes are frequent?

88

What are the materials that need to be chosen to create a structure which stands firmly on its ground during earthquake? Why there is little research in the country to bring out techniques and designs that are not prone to natural calamities?

88

The capital with its all beautiful Glass & mortar structures is sitting on a ticking time bomb. Experts have already predicted 10 times more massive devastation in case of an earthquake equivalent to Nepal.

The next issue of SURFACES REPORTER will have an article with insights from some experts on Earthquake, Cyclones etc., and their opinion on how to make fail safe buildings. Surfaces hopes that our initiatives will reach the right eyes & ears! Write your opinion to us at press@surfaces.in

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 22

readers comments Hi, I am Tanveer Masoodi, Principal Architect M/S Ideas Next, Architecture & Interiors and a teacher-cum-guide at Govt. Polytechnic college, Kashmir. I happened to read Surfaces Reporter recently for the first time. It is good and I found it intresting to know about the happenings in architecture industry. We would like to have a few copies of the same for office and later we would have it on subscription basis all through.

- Ar. Tanveer Masoodi, Kashmir

(Dear architect, thanks for your acknoledgement. Our office has sent the copies. Strong reader base is the greatest foundation of any magazine. We would love to have you as a regular reader of Surfaces Reporter :)

Feeling great to receive good knowledge about new materials & ideas!

- Arti Arun Belsare, Venkatramanan Associate, Pune, Maharashtra

A good Magazine to explore materials & designs.

-Jodh Singh, Absolute Space, Jalandhar, Punjab

We like this magazine. Quality of paper used and quality of printing is also very good.

- Vidya Sagar, Architects & Consultants, Bangalore, Karnataka

Keep on enhancing the people’s taste by providing the good stuff across. Good Job! - Jaspal Singh Tuteja, Indore, M.P

Excellent new entrant in magazine world of design!

- Shailesh .L. Chitlangi, Astitra Architects, Auransabad, Maharashtra

I don’t have words to explain how I feel.

Surfaces Reporter is just too good!

- Sanjay Goel, Vibrant Technik, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Content is good. Updation on latest Material & Surfaces is praiseworthy.

- Ravi Gupta, Purbanchal Laminates Pvt Ltd, Chandigarh, Punjab

The magazine is very Informative about various products, and I must say, Surfaces Reporter is moving towards excellence.

-Yesha Gandhi Parekh, Architect Hafeez Contractor, Kandivali West, Mumbai

I had an opportunity to glance through this magazine by chance, and found it very well presented and informative. Thank you!

- Ar. Shreyas Jain , Navakar Architects , Jayanagar, Bangalore

I really like reading the magazine and would like to subscribe a copy for myself.

- Swati Jain, Interior Designer, Swakritii, Mahadevpur Thank you all for your valuable comments!

Write your opinion to us at- press@surfaces.in You surely inspire us!!!

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 24

surfaces.magazine

surfacesmagzin

100 Designs from Milan

Surfaces Reporter

Milano Duomo

Met & Spotted!!!

Owner & chief designer of Laser Art Style, Italy

Know as ‘Lady Gaga of Design’ Marcel Wanders love to design gifts, beside the vast pool of professional designs from furniture to decor, to electronics.

It was a dream meeting with the international figure in architecture & urban design, the master plan architect for the reconstruction of the World Trade Center, New York, Architect Daniel Libeskind

Jan Kath from Jan Kath designer rugs, Germany

Designer Steven Ma of Xuberance, China

Orla Reynolds from Dublin specializes in Space saving furniture

A couple enjoying outside the Duomo Ar. Niroop Kr. Reddy NA Architects, Hyderabad

Ashok Advani, MD, designer Lighting Artecraft International Pietro Travaglini, Italy

Ashok Advani, MD Artecraft International, Mumbai

Ar. Nimit Kamdar from ZEDO Group, Rajkot

100+ Designs picked from Milan Design Week 2015

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 28

The winners of Design Report - SaloneSatellite Award 2015

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 29

100 Designs from Milan • • • • • • •

A hand to sit on!

MADE iN kOrEA VAriETy Of COLOr TONE JOiNT-LESS ECO-friENDLy iLLUMiNATiON SANiTATiON DUrAbiLiTy

2015 is a very important year for Riva 1920, which celebrates 95 years of furniture making.

The HANDY seat designed by Antonella Scarpitta is one among its latest collections.

Designed by Antonella Scarpitta, this seat is worked from a section of a cedar trunk. Its expressive, sculptural, and artistic design highlights the qualities of the raw material. A happy marriage of technology and art, Handy offers a novel version of the classical wooden armchair with its rounded form and high back.

Size: LxDxH 62.5x65x102.5 CM www.riva1920.it

MARKETED BY:

SANWUD SHOPPE PVT. LTD.

A-1, Ground Floor, Timber Block, W.H.S., Kirti Nagar, New Delhi-110015 www.tristone.co.in | e:contact@sanwud.com | p: 011-41006813, 9910228889 Inviting Dealers & Distributors All Over India JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 36

100 Designs from Milan

Surfaces Reporter

Vitruvian Man in Marble by

Ar. Bernard Khoury The latest creation of Margraf is an interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's famous Vitruvian Man. The work consists of a series of marble rings shaping a 10-metre-long tunnel, is a faceto-face representation of classical times and the contemporary age. At one end stands the statue of a common man, who desperately tries to adapt to the ideal proportions of the human body, becoming an idiomatic symbol of natural stone used in art. On the other side of the tunnel, a video performance of that same man, played by a Syrian refugee. He is on a bed, in a studio in Karantina, a district of Beirut, Lebanon, and he is trying to mirror himself in Vitruvian Man. The man sleeps, moves, rests, appears and disappears from the scene, and lives his simple daily routine that is monitored in real time and full scale for the entire duration of the exhibition. The circumference of the tunnel is an extrusion of the circle, that "confines" the Vitruvian Man, made in scale. Upon entering the marble tunnel, visitors need to find a balance and stability in space.

Specifications: Lightweight marble- Special assembly techniques using honeycomb panels and external aluminium cladding were applied to make each single circle. An exclusive Margraf experiment to make a marble with just 5 mm thickness glued to a honeycomb panel of about 10 mm.

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 38

Lighting- Every single circle feature a concealed channel, shielded with transparent film, which hosts an innovative dimmable LED system (to manage the intensity of the light) to become an individual light fixture.

Aerospace technology - The tunnel rests on a platform made using a self-levelling aerospace technology that allows installing this structure on any surface with any gradient.

Easy assembly- Advanced engineering to reduce the weight of each module to a minimum within hours. The rings have been assembled in part using a fastening system (used in the naval industry) that greatly facilitates the replacement of the marble components while leaving the base structure intact. info@margraf.it JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 39

100 Designs from Milan

Surfaces Reporter

Living the office Specialized since 1963, Uffix office furniture collection has given new meaning to office furniture with the concept of ‘Living the office’. This collection LUNA has received the Good Design award. info@uffix.com

Good

Vibrations This piece bears the signature of FerruccioLaviani. Echoes of distant lands and hints of oriental styles can be glimpsed in the “out of phase” design of Good Vibrations which seems to have been deformed by a shock or pervaded by oscillating movements and that, even if they seem to wish to alter the decorations of the past, in reality gainstrength from an ancient wisdom like that of woodcarving and craftsmanlike woodwork.

It is an out of the ordinary furnishing which fascinates because it dares to overthrow the classical records, questioning the parameters of classic design understood as pureness, cleanness and symmetry of lines, while still leaving that tranquilizing sensation of deja vu and a sort of primordial taste that does not detract from the care of the worksmanship. info@fratelliboffi.it

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 62

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 63

100 Designs from Milan

SURFACES REPORTER’S

GRAND COLLECTORS EDITION COMING UP!!!

FOR SUBMITING PRODUCTS

Email: press@surfaces.in, Call: 011-41681395 TO ADVERTISE

Phillip Grass Design by Danish Living

Poetic and imaginative elements enhanced with a subtle touch of humor are at the heart of Denmark based Phillip Grass’ design philosophy, allowing the objects to take on a life of their own. contact: info@phillipgrass.com

Email: surfaces@surfaces.in, Call: 011-41681395, 9310612998

Please do not complain later that we haven’t informed you!

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 64

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 65

100 Designs from Milan

Surfaces Reporter

SLICED is a modular table designed

by Francesco Perego, that is completely customizable. The structure, consisting of plywood modules, is the key element.It can also be produced in multilayer laminate.

www.gaffuriarredamenti.it

Black Diamond Luxury Safe www.bocadolobo.com

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 68

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 69

Surfaces 10 on 10 DuPont is not just another business conglomerate.Working successfully since last two centuries, the brand name has become the epitome of success triggered by a slew of innovations. Starting from the mighty Dynamite to the most successful Nylon and further reaching to Corian®, DuPont™ is also one of the biggest science companies in the world.

DuPont’s association with India has been since 1802, when the first shipment of raw materials for black powder for explosives was imported from India to the US. Today, DuPont India markets a wide range of products in varied market segments including agriculture, food and nutrition; health care; home and construction; electronics; safety and protection; and transportation and infrastructure. In a special conversation with SURFACES REPORTER®, Rajeev A. Vaidya, President of DuPont Building Innovations; Balvinder Singh Kalsi, President – DuPont South Asia and ASEAN & Nainish Sanghani, Business Manager of DuPont Building Innovations – South Asia shared their views on various key verticals of DuPont.

Rajeev A. Vaidya, President of DuPont Building Innovations

Dr. Vaidya joined DuPont in 1985 as a research scientist with the DuPont™ Butacite® business in Parkersburg. In a career spanning 26 years at DuPont, his responsibilities have been divided between technology and commercial marketing and business leadership roles.

10-on-10 DuPont Corian with

TM



SINCE 2 CENTURIES, DUPONT HAS TIME & AGAIN PROVED THAT WHEN OTHERS WERE BUSY COPING with THE PRE-EXISTING NOTION, THE FIRM AND ITS PEOPLE WERE THINKING HEADLONG AND MAKING TRANSFORMATIONS THAT WERE UNFATHOMABLE TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS. SURFACES REPORTER® suggests MATERIAL COMPANIES to learn from dupont, specially those WHO WISH TO FOLLOW THE INNOVATION ROUTE TO SUCCESS!

1

DuPont has a long history spanning over two centuries. What is the success mantra?

In the 200+ years that we have operated as a company, everything has changed - what we sell, who we sell to, where we sell, etc. But two things have remained the same - our unwavering commitment to our core values, and our mission to bring science-powered solutions that make a difference in people’s lives. From gunpowder to nylon, Kevlar® and seeds, we have always applied our science in ways that matter to the world while putting safety, integrity and concern for our people first.

2

What kind of innovations are in pipeline for India?

DuPont continues to bring its science-powered innovations to customers around the world, including those in India.

The DuPont Building Innovations business continues to bring a portfolio of easy-to-clean, aesthetically pleasing surfacing materials to the Indian market. These can enrich people’s lives in residential and commercial spaces. Over the years, we have continued to enhance our technology to provide new offerings such as our Deep Color™ Technology,

We plan to offer our new wireless charging technology in India. Thanks to technology embedded in Corian®, a cell phone can charge wirelessly just by being placed on its surface. which offers deeper, richer colors and more reflective finishes, but is actually about much more than its seamless, aesthetic beauty.

This new technology also resulted in a product that is easier to fabricate, more colorfast, more durable and that exhibits scratchmasking performance. The reduction in scratch-whitening is a huge plus with architects and designers, who had previously been reluctant to select dark Corian® colors for their residential and commercial applications.

And while Corian® solid surface is often associated with countertops for kitchens and bathrooms, our products can be used in other applications like cladding for various commercial spaces and has also been used for pillars in airports such as those in Mumbai and Delhi. Additionally, Corian® solid surface can be fabricated and backlit in such a way as to provide an artistic effect that is similar to hanging a picture on the wall. And later this year, we plan to offer our new wireless charging technology in India. Thanks to technology embedded in Corian®, a cell phone can charge wirelessly just by being placed on its surface.

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 93

&

Big

S lim Panels

Surfaces Reporter Is Big & Thin just a trend or a need of the market?

With length & width as big as 3x1 m, while with a thickness of just 3-6mm, 'Tall & Sleek' panels have created a new position & category for themselves in the construction industry of India. Opinions are divided when it comes to usability & acceptability of the panels.

With this study, SURFACES REPORTER wanted to check the current pulse of the market for these Thin Porcelain panels & tiles, their suitability continuum, and growth.

In today’s world of seamless architecture, size plays a pivotal role. Gone are the days when 2x2 or 4x4 used to be the large sizes. Now we can talk about the sizes as big as 1000x1500mm, 1000x3000mm with a weight of not more than 7-10 kg and a sleekness that could shy even the slimmest of the actress. These Thin Porcelain Tiles or TPT are available in the mere width of 3-6mm, an interesting proposition with lightweight and thinness.

They have a wide variety of applications such as on facade, floor, countertops, furniture; wall paneling, anywhere and everywhere achieving total seamlessness.

“The USP of Thin Porcelain Tiles (TPT) lies in being a cross between natural stone, marble & laminates. It is a very hard material with resistance to light, water and chemicals. With a slew of applications, and availability in a lot of colours and textures makes it an excellent choice,” commented an expert.

“Initially, there were apprehensions about TPT particularly concerning its thinness which creates an issue in application as well as handling. However, today, people’s attitude towards the product has drastically changed. They now understand and appreciate the performance, utility style and aesthetics of the product.

It is also avoids a lot of construction issues. For instance, being a thin and bigger product, it reduces the overall structural load of the building. You can ensure the consistency of size and design throughout the structure without many joints,” adds Sumit Lyallpuri, Executive Director of Durlax Archtech Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai suppliers of 3LAM. Slim panels v/s Natural stones No doubt, the beauty and sturdiness of stones make them one of the most sought after materials. However, a natural materials like stone comes with its own limitations, i.e., porous and limited size. Working with natural stone is also not easy since you have to be wary about the wastage incurred, which at times goes to almost 20%. In this scenario, porcelain slabs work perfectly.

Porcelain is a 4000 years old material, commonly used for kitchenware and decorative items by our forefathers. The major advantage of porcelain panels over stones is that they are non porous and hence can be easily used in places with moisture. Unlike stone, they are not heavy weight and thus can be easily installed. They are cost effective and incur less waste.

Some other advantages of these Slim Panels are that they are strong, dense, and resistant to scratching, staining, fading, cracking and chemicals. They are not subjected to weathering or prone to mold or mildew.

Installing over existing surface is easy!

Another aspect of Porcelain panels is that they are effective when you aspire for a new look without altering much of your existing setting. All they need is a flat surface to be laid upon; they can be fixed over the existing wall or tiles and hence do not require a much of hammer and nail work. They are ideal for public spaces, particularly hospitals; hotels etc., which are high traffic as well as having problems with dust emitted during the construction work.

When used as exterior cladding, porcelain panels are mounted with thin-set mortar and do not require mechanical mounting systems, nor do they require sealing or painting, saving materials and labor and associated environmental costs over a building’s life-span.

For interiors, porcelain panels can be used in place of most hard surface materials but are particularly well suited for areas exposed to moisture, heat, or chemicals such as locker rooms, bathrooms, and laboratories or where cleaning and sanitizing chemicals are used.

They can also be applied where other tiles and surface materials are impractical. They are light enough to be used on ceilings, door facings, and sliding panels, and all of these panels are flexible enough to be applied over curved surfaces providing the appearance and durability of polished stone that cannot be matched by standard veneers or laminates.

"The panels can create jointfree finished products."

Ar. Ninad Tipnis JTCPL Designs, Mumbai www.jtcpldesigns.com

A graphical representation of the big & slim Florim porcelain slabs on the exterior of a building.

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 98

Advantages of using porcelain panel over stone: Porcelain panels are strong, dense, nonporous, and impervious to moisture, resist scratching, staining, fading, cracking and achieve a uniform look which is not always achieved by stones.

They are chemical-resistant; also they are not a food source for mold or mildew. The lightweight, heat, freeze and UV resistant properties of porcelain panels make them well suitable for indoor as well as outdoor use. Another key feature is that it is extremely low-maintenance and does not emit VOCs or other chemicals.

Pros and cons of using Slim Panels: The pros of using these types of panels are that they are made of ultra thin, light-weight and extremely durable porcelain. Also joint free finished products can be created as they are available in large sizes. The absorption level is almost zero reducing the maintenance efforts to a simple clean and making it one of the most hygienic surface materials for any type of application.

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 99

Digitizing Retail We are standing on the brink of a digital revolution where the lines between online & offline are blurring. In this age of apps, smart gadgets, online sales and with a slew of innovations unfolded in theÂŽ retail industry particularly related to clothing & accessories, SURFACES REPORTER wanted to knock our dĂŠcor industry & check what kind of innovation are happening here, in order to provide a better experience to retail consumers.

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 105

Focus- Engineered Flooring

Surfaces Reporter

Engineered

Flooring For those who know the difference between Looks like wood & Real wood

Wood is natural, wood is warm and wood is close to our hearts. A breathing surface, it’s durable and restorable but wood is scarce and therefore expensive. It also does come with its own set of challenges; like being a natural material its fragile relationship with humidity and moisture amongst others.

In order to overcome these challenges, Engineered Wood Flooring was introduced which provides the same benefits of solid wood yet is comparatively less expensive and handles moisture and humidity in a much better way. At the same, it is much more sustainable since only a few layers of wood veneer is used to make it, as opposed to solid hardwood flooring which is milled from a single piece of timber. Let’s take a look at the engineered wood flooring basics and how it is transforming the wood floors of today!

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 112

The basics

Engineered wood flooring is composed of two or more layers of wood in the form of a plank. It has a top layer of hardwood, a middle layer and a layer of vertical strips is fixed on a third layer. The top layer is known as ‘lamella and is the face layer which is a sawn piece of timber. The lamella is adhered to the core. The increased stability of engineered wood is achieved by running each layer at a 90-degree angle to the above layer. The sawn cut can be of three different styles: flat sawn, quarter-sawn and rift-sawn where each lends a different appearance. The technique ensures that the engineered floors do not warp when exposed to moisture.

Among the top choices wood available for the uppermost layer of the flooring are oak, walnut, ash, cherry, jetoba, jarrah, maple, wenge, beech and teak. These species cope well with daily wear-and-tear as compared to softer woods like pine and spruce. The hardwood layer can be anything between 0.6mm to 20mm thick for high-traffic areas. Thickness is a major factor in determining the price of the engineered wood.

Engineered wood floors are manufactured in two ways; a ‘sliced’ cut where the hardwood wear layer shows an original look of the wood and finer graining while the other is a ‘rotary’ cut, which shows a dramatic wilder graining.

Mikasa

Most engineered wood floors have a click-locking system in which the planks fit into one another. There’s no need for pasting or nailing.

These planks have special tongue and groove systems that simply lock together, forming a tight seam and seamlessly smooth appearance.

Wherever you go, the floor goes with you…

Resand & Reuse

Strong Structural Integrity

Environment friendly!

One of the benefits of Engineered floors is apart from the gluing down option; most engineered wood floors today have a click-locking system in which the planks fit into one another. There’s no need for pasting or nailing. Click lock engineered planks have special tongue and groove systems that simply lock together, forming a tight seam and seamlessly smooth appearance. They require no glue and just lay over a foam or cork underlayment. As long as your existing floor is leveled and stable, you can install the floating floor right on top. Engineered hardwood flooring can be used on wood subfloors, vinyl and tile or dry concrete slabs. They can last from 20 years to 80 years depending on the quality and thickness of the plies.

Engineered floors unlike solid hardwood flooring are made of several wood piles that are fused together under heat and pressure. The finished surface of an engineered floor consists of a thick layer of solid hardwood showing the grainy pattern of the hardwood species. These bonded layers create an enhanced structural integrity. The increased stability of engineered wood make it a universal product that can be installed over all types of subfloors. The superior strength and stability of engineered floors makes them less likely to expand or contract, which means they are less susceptible to changes in temperatures and humidity. More resistant to moisture and humidity than solid hardwood, better for below-grade installations - basements, where dampness is common.

In engineered flooring, the thicknesses of wear layer can vary greatly and can be ranged anywhere from .6mm to 6mm. However, it should be noted that while it is possible to sand the surface to remove and scratches and dents, the number of times a floor can be sanded depends upon the thickness of the top layer.

For example, a 2.0mm top layer can be sanded for about 1-2 times. It is however advisable to take the help of a professional sander for the refinishing. The good part though is, if maintained properly, engineered floor can easily look great for 10 years.

Most manufacturers maintain that with the changing preference and rising lifestyle, people generally prefer to alter the look of their flooring too with the overall home decor. Hence, in very few instances, customers request for re-sanding entire flooring.

Engineered floors are sustainable as compared to solid hard wood.

They are environment-friendly as just the top layer is hardwood instead of an entire milled plank. Moreover, most manufacturers ensure that the trees are sourced from sustainable forests where for every tree cut five new ones are planted. At the same time, exotic or endangered species are rarely used for producing engineered wood. The floors are comfortable as they are not hot in summer or too cold in winter. Engineered wood flooring is also recyclable and used as reclaimed wood. Agreeing with the point Gaurav Saraf, JMD, Squarefoot flooring says, “Theoretically, it can be recycled but we need a recycled plant in India.”

JUNE 2015 SURFACES REPORTER 113