As the world awakes from enforced slumber as the unfortunate result of the ongoing pandemic, the Cosentino Group, that Spanish name famed for its catalogue of beautiful surfaces for architecture and design, has had a very busy few weeks being in the think of contemporary design!
Just last month saw the debut of the Cosentino City Los Angeles Center, perhaps a delayed expansion of its “City” network – the state-of-the-art showrooms located in the heart of key metropolises worldwide – with the launch of Its fifth showroom location on August 10 after New York, San Francisco, Miami and Los Angeles – and the sixteenth globally. But suppose many guests were there to bask in the glow of the company’s brand ambassador, Cindy Crawford!
Yet, on days when a supermodel isn’t present, the new showroom offers a look at how a 21st-century design brand is cutting its own path in the market everyone wants to be in.
The US$1.7 million, 4,208-square-foot showroom unfolds with a modern kitchen, chic outdoor lounge, and various places to sit and recharge your phone. Large slabs of Dekton and Silestone, two of Cosentino’s patented surfacing technologies, are poised along the walls awaiting attention, and the wood-panelled selection room is adorned with rows of multicoloured samples in myriad finishes.
Then, at the Milan Design Week on September 6, the brand in collaboration with renowned Milan-based Brazilian designers Mariana and Gustavo Martini presents the unique Dekton Nilium “O” table.
Mariana and Gustavo Martini
The table is elegant, refined and extremely durable, created with the ultra-compact Dekton surface. This gives it enhanced mechanical qualities and resistance to chemical agents, UV rays and extreme temperatures, which do not change the colour or shape of objects. It’s definitely a table that will stand the test of time… even become a possible heirloom!
This collaboration with furniture designers was definitely sparked by Cosentino’s recent unveiling of its much-awaited capsule collection of furniture and home accessories in Dubai at the beginning of August. This was created in collaboration with celebrated regional designers Nada Debs, Mustafa Khamash, Fadi Sarieddine, Aljoud Lootah and the duo Dana Al Matrook and Newsha Dastaviz from The Line Concept.
The ‘O’ table
Entitled Breaking Boundaries, the collection is an ode to Dekton Slim, the ultra-compact material format born out of the brand’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and pushing the boundaries of surface design. Using Dekton Slim both as a functional and decorative feature, the collaborators have pushed the boundaries of the material to their full potential to create five individual works of art in their signature design styles.
The eclectic collection comprises a rocking chair, a console, a coffee table, a range of low side tables and a series of vases, created within a period of four months by the renowned collaborators.
Dubai-based interior fit-out contractor Cherwell played an integral role as the production partner on this project. Talking about how their production design team surmounted challenges, CEO Tom Brooks reveals.
“Using our advanced 3D software and a 5-axis waterjet we were able to tackle some of the more intricate elements of the designers’ work, in some instances working with very small and complex shapes cut multi-directionally,” says Brooks. According to him, this was the designer pushing his outfit to the limit!
“But that we were able to create these challenging bespoke designs is a testament to the material. It has given us the confidence that there is nothing we cannot achieve through collective effort.”
