„CORCRETE is a special material, both in terms of visual and tactile qualities – and it is also an alternative to conventional materials.“

Nina Ruthe and David Antonin use their curiosity and intuition to develop an exciting materiality in their designs. In this project, they also developed a new material: by combining the contrasting qualities of cork and concrete, the design duo created their own natural-looking material for interior design and architecture. Originating from the attempt to make concrete lighter, over the years, the material development has been perfected and the process patented. A process influenced by many internal as well as external test series, which revealed unimagined potential.

Back in 2016, CORCRETE won the Biennale Interieur Kortrijk Award as well as the Green Product Award and Green Product Traders Award in Stockholm, reaping praise for the successful combination of aesthetics and innovation. Multifaceted in its variety of uses as well as in its visual and tactile qualities, this material is the ideal protagonist for contemporary interiors and individual as well as unusual projects. Following an intensive development phase, the main focus centered on finding the right production partner – a complex and demanding task.

In 2021, the designers came into contact with HARTIS: in addition to a passion for craftsmanship, manual work and innovation, the Belgian family business has a distinctive and long-term track record of projects that involve natural stone, terrazzo and concrete. In HARTIS, Nina and David have found like-minded material enthusiasts. The result: tailor-made solutions including comprehensive advice on project planning and technical implementation for a wide variety of interiors.

„We especially want to reach architects and interior designers with the special aesthetics of the material for the implementation of their projects. Because: CORCRETE is versatile and can be used in interiors as floor and wall covering, as well as for furniture and surfaces. CORCRETE is unique and distinct, just like every project.“

But what makes CORCRETE so special? It seems familiar – but atsecond glance it’s surprising. While the material initially looks like terrazzo, on closer inspection, it reveals a more natural appearance. The first touch of CORCRETE also imparts an unexpected sensation: it feels velvety and warm. The natural material cork unfolds its unmistakable visual and tactile aesthetics in combination with the cool concrete. Also special: the hidden structure of CORCRETE – just like terrazzo. It is only when the cast surface is sanded that the added granules become visible and create the beautiful, vibrant terrazzo effect.Compared to conventional concrete materials, CORCRETE is around 40 percent lighter thanks to the addition of cork granulate from Portuguese cork production; in addition, much less sand, an increasingly scarce resource, is needed in the production process. CORCRETE is produced in white, black and grey. There are no standard dimensions – because every CORCRETE project is unique and is planned and implemented exclusively for and with the client.

An example reference: the VEJA headquarters in New York. The sneakers label also follows sustainable principles in the design of its interior – natural, aesthetic, casual and appealing. Custom-made sideboards and a bench made of CORCRETE complement the interior designed by the Brooklyn-based architecture firm JDY, giving the space a unique look and feel. Find out more about CORCRETE at www.corcrete.de

Der Beitrag MATERIAL INSPIRES OUR SENSES erschien zuerst auf niruk.

„We go through life with open eyes and linger on something we find interesting: whether it‘s a material, a manufacturing process, or a texture that’s pleasant to the touch. It‘s about a perception of aesthetics as we understand it – anything can be relevant.“ 

CORK. Nina Ruthe & David Antonin of Design Studio Niruk focus on a new material, examine its visual and tactile qualities, and create unique forms and products. The result: natural, soft and warm; velvety, exquisite and emotional; graphic, architectural and clear. NIRUK has designed four products for the Portuguese brand Cork Units. A pared-down, yet evocative, design idiom. Characterised by the natural material of cork, the special manufacturing process and a uniquely warm texture. A cork oak must grow for 25 years before its bark can be harvested for the first time: this first cut is called virgin cork. Its rugged surface is different from all subsequent cuts in the life of a cork oak. Cork needs time to regenerate: it can only be harvested every nine years. Afterwards, the bark cuts are stored, dried and sawn into boards, which are then glued and processed into blocks. A material that can tell a story – quietly, but emphatically.

NIRUK also tells a story: about texture, forms and colours, about  the creation of materials and manufacturing processes. After glass and porcelain, the current focus is on  cork. Which shapes and applications suit this material?  The result: four durable and well thought-out designs – sustainability paired with contemporary aesthetics. NIRUK creates products that exude authenticity. Following material studies and intensive research in NIRUK’s own ‘material lab’, the design process set in. The results are the PORTOBELLO wall hooks, the CORKBOARD wall shelf, the BALANÇO swing and the PLAY side table. Made of cork, characterised by clear, graphic design. The products are defined by geometrical shapes, they are pleasing to the touch and the material’s changing natural shades feel familiar.

The PORTOBELLO coat hooks are inspired by nature; the smaller versions can also be used as knobs for closets and chests of drawers. The cork’s tactile qualities are reminiscent of the velvety surface of mushrooms, while the shape of the knobs picks up the rounded form, which, through the graphic cut transforms into a circle on the front surface.

Pared-down architectural forms: The PLAY side table is defined by two differently sized cork blocks; the lightweight material and the staggered arrangement break up the solidity of the composition. A powder-coated shelf made of edged steel provides storage space for magazines and books.

The CORKBOARD SHELF is inspired by driftwood that acquires its soft, rounded form and its texture by contact with water and sand. The irregularities of nature are transformed into a simple and pared-down shape that is repeated in the simplicity of the wall fastening. Lightweight but solid, at the same time, round, geometrical and floating.

For indoors and outdoors: With the BALANÇO swing, the focus is on movement – and on the child that we are at heart. Both the geometrical shape and the size of the hemi-sphere with rounded edges provide safety and comfort.The rope is made of sustainable, recycled PET.

Der Beitrag „YOU BEGIN WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE MATERIAL.“ (Reuschenberg)  erschien zuerst auf niruk.