Surface Design Show 2024: Highlights

Manufacturers looked to the nourishing qualities of the natural world to inform surfaces that incorporate organic elements and echo natural rhythms.

Swansea-based recycled materials company Smile Plastics introduced its Earth Collection as a departure from its signature decorative panels. Inspired by the Welsh landscape, the new products embrace grounding natural tones and subtle nuances, incorporating light specks of recycled plastic for an understated eco-conscious aesthetic. Colour options include golden yellow Brecon, rich red Quarry and serene Grey Mist.

The PowderLux range, by Northamptonshire-based specialist Powdertech Corby, also debuted at the show. These premium powder coatings, suitable for both architectural and interior applications, mimic the appearance of glazed ceramics and burnished metals. Applied to aluminium or steel, they offer a sustainable alternative to scarce materials while delivering hyperrealistic metal effects in shades like amber rust and blueing steel. The range provides architects and specifiers with a cost-effective, eco-friendly substitute for high-carbon metals and ceramics.

Elsewhere, French studio Design Shades presented Her Dark Materials, a collection of highly textured 3D-printed black vases, crafted from recycled wood filament that emits a natural scent. And Japanese manufacturer Tatinoya showcased textiles woven from thinly sliced veneers.

Sustainability rightfully took centre stage, with the debut of schemes and surfaces aimed at keeping materials valuable for longer.

British manufacturer CDUK is responding to the staggering 450 tonnes of solid surface material dumped annually in the UK and Irish landfills with the launch of Vita Nova. Meaning “new life” in Italian, this initiative facilitates the collection and repurposing of materials like Corian and PaperStone. Already operational in Leeds, Vita Nova will collaborate with designers and industry partners to breathe fresh life into discarded materials for use across various applications.

Joining the mission to combat industry waste, London-based materials supplier Surface Matter unveiled its Material Rescue takeback service. Small samples, packaging and offcuts were gathered at Surface Design Show as part of its launch.

Elsewhere, novel surfaces redefine the value of underused materials. Stratum Designs from Cornwall presents an inventive approach with its intricate inlay composite, which merges reclaimed timber, machinable metals and recycled ocean plastics into sustainable “modern marquetry”. The fully customisable technique allows for various colour and material combinations to yield unique results.

Midlands-based Studio Mafa, winner of this year’s New Talent award, repurposes cow manure into Erth, a versatile material for furniture and accessories. Similarly, UK-based Chloe Mountain’s Beetware is a biodegradable surface material made from British ceramic aggregates and sugar production waste. Waterproof and heat-resistant (with the aid of a non-biodegradable sealant), it’s suitable for worktops and flooring. Moreover, Indian manufacturer KH Group showcased Inocra, colourful patterned surfaces for interiors crafted from compressed waste-leather scraps from its factory.

For more natural and waste-based building solutions, see Carbon-Conscious Corn Cladding and Towards Sustainable Construction.

Solid surface manufacturers redefine facades with engaging three-dimensional qualities.

UK-based Ketley Brick demonstrates clay’s adaptability in architectural design with its Vision Bricks, which explore unconventional shapes and textures, from angular to tactile profiles. Its innovative Brixel system expands design possibilities, using six machine-extruded clay Brixel bricks to create intricate relief patterns without the need for bespoke manufacturing.

Meanwhile, Spanish studio Flic introduced Sarab, 3D terracotta tiles inspired by mirage effects. These tiles, with their triangular prism shape and bicolour enamel, have dynamic visual appeal while providing acoustic and thermal insulation.

Manufactured by British vitreous enamel specialists AJ Wells, Indigo Stipple is a rippled porcelain enamel, boasting reflective, tactile properties and durability. Suitable for both interior and exterior use, it offers versatile applications, from kitchen worktops to external cladding.

Lastly, UK-based wood surfacing company Havwoods’ Simplista veneers bring its popular profiles into paintable and flexible MDF (medium-density fibreboard) surfaces, suitable for walls, ceilings and furniture while providing a blend of versatility and affordability.