Immersion in a surface material is possible! Benjamin Hubert of LAYER shows how using Dekton and light in poetic installation for Cosentino in Milan.
April 11th, 2019
Following a successful preview during the recent Madrid Design Festival 19, Raytrace – designed by Benjamin Hubert of LAYER for Cosentino – now exhibits at Milan Design Week 2019. The immersive architectural installation showcases the material qualities of Cosentino’s Dekton surface material and how it can come to life with light.
Exhibited in the historic vaulted warehouses beneath the Central Train Station, Raytrace is a 25-metre-long, six-metre-high triangular passage composed of 380 square metres of the ultra compact surface Dekton Slim, with a thickness, or rather thinness, of only four millimetres. Seemingly balanced on a single edge within the dark atmospheric tunnels of Ventura Centrale, the surfaces create a large passageway that visitors can walk through.
Upon entering the passageway, a mesmerising caustic pattern – made possible by 29 glass spheres and 87 LED lights – slowly dances across the surface, emulating light refraction through water. The effect gives visitors the sense of being underwater without the need for scuba-diving equipment nor the ability to swim. They also become part of the installation when their shadows are cast against the structure’s surface. Two mirrors at either end of the vault reflect the installation, further creating the illusion of an infinite space.
Drawing inspiration from Dekton’s creation process when designing Raytrace, Hubert ultimately put the element of water back onto the material with a caustic optic effect. “The extraction of water using extreme heat and pressure throughout the manufacturing process is what makes Dekton a durable material most suited for architecture. Raytrace is a direct response to this method,” says Hubert. “But the most important thing about Raytrace is how it makes people feel. We encourage people to touch it, to interact and really experience the properties of Dekton.”
A powerful combination of design, nature and emotion, “the installation not only demonstrates the versatility of Dekton, but we hope that it can inspire architects and designers to think about the future of architecture and use our material in new ways,” says Santiago Alfonso, Vice President of Marketing and Communication at Cosentino Group.
If you’re in Milan, experience the installation at Ventura Centrale, Via Ferranti Aporti 27.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
With Milan 2024 only a few weeks away, we sneak a view of some of the most exciting pieces set to go on show – from lighting design to furniture, here are nine preview products.
Salone del Mobile 2024 is only a few weeks away, so we’re highlighting here seven special events, spaces and installations that we’re certainly planning to check out.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
As one of the many entries to The Social Space category at the 2024 INDE.Awards, this community centre is something out of the ordinary through its architectural design, that also provides a place for community and connection for many.
Create a configuration to suit your needs with this curved collection.