The first studio to be opened by DuPont is in downtown Milan, with a further two located in Philadelphia’s Marketplace Design Center and in the visual arts-centric Flatiron district of New York City.
It says it was the pioneer in solid surfaces and engineered stone over 40 years ago with Corian. This renowned original resin composite still commands an enviable worldwide reputation today, while its complementary product, Zodiaq, combines the strength and beauty of natural quartz (95% of its composition), enabling designers and fabricators to create distinctive installations suggesting luxury and elegance, says DuPont.
Corian can be used to create flat and curved surfaces for furnishing and design solutions in residential and public applications. It is uniform throughout its entire thickness, is non-porous, does not require additional finishing, is easy to clean and, if necessary, repairable.
It can be thermo-formed into custom shapes and contours, sandblasted, routed, carved, laser-etched and back-lit.
The Corian Design Milano Store has an area of about 300m2 and exhibits a variety of products and systems: kitchens, bathroom decor, tables, lamps – made with Corian solid surfaces and Zodiaq quartz surfaces by client companies of DuPont, as well as installations created by designers from different countries.
The showroom’s interior design is the work of Catharine Lorenz and Steffen Kaz from the Lorenz Kaz Studio in Milan; two German designers who have been working in Milan for many years.
“Corian has a consolidated relationship to Milan, the world capital of design,” says Maurizio Solaro, country manager for DuPont Surfaces Italy. “DuPont has been presenting Corian and its great potential during design and interiors events and trade shows since 1998, in collaboration with world-renowned architects, designers and companies, including Ettore Sottsass, Zaha Hadid, Ron Arad and Marc Newson.”
The New York studio, which comprises 5,000ft2, is an interactive workshop where design influencers can consult with experts to address specific project needs and help bring their ideas and applications to life – from the most simple to the most advanced designs.
“Our collective vision was to create a place of interaction and experiment, where industry experts can collaborate and create inspirational environments with Corian and Zodiaq,” said Elizabeth Lawson, North America commercial marketing manager for DuPont Surfaces.
“The space will serve as the premier resource to demonstrate how DuPont Surfaces can be used as innovative, flexible and inspirational design materials.”
To provide consultation and project support for commercial designers and specifiers, Evans & Paul surfacing solutions experts are on hand and available by appointment.
“The Design Studio is a showcase for new offerings, fabrication skills and real life applications that convey how innovative designs can be flawlessly executed into striking spaces,” said Christopher Whitelaw, director of research and development, Evans & Paul.
Renowned New York architects Michael Morris and Yoshiko Sato of Morris Sato Studio custom-designed the Dupont Corian Design Studio using cutting-edge lighting, sound and shape technology to create a ‘sanctuary of experience’.
“We have defined the studio space through the Japanese concept of a borrowed landscape. Like a delicate garden, it is a sensory experience where designers can look, touch, feel and see the energy that Corian evokes,” said Mr Morris. “The specific technologies we have employed within the studio will actually draw people closer to the material, rather than farther away.”
One stand-out design feature of the studio is the starry sky lighting, featuring 74 pieces of thermoformed Corian. The ‘heavens’ above connect visitors to the application vignettes within the studio.
Another key focal point includes integrated, flexible, real-life applications for a variety of market environments, ranging from operating theatres, feature walls, hospitality, education and residential applications, to lighting, furniture and more.
Architects and designers in search of textured surface colours that can harmonise and invigorate an interior space can turn to the 2009 Dupont Corian Private Collection for inspiration.
The eight new hues – Witch Hazel, Sandalwood, Jasmine, Saffron, Elderberry, Juniper, Thyme and Rosemary – are a collection inspired by the subtleties of nature, with intricate browns, rusts, greys, blues and greens.
“Our emphasis was on expanding the Corian Private Collection to offer more flexibility, so architects and designers can achieve their creative visions,” said Elizabeth Lawson.  “The palette is bright and boldly neutral, infusing universal adaptable colours with shading, contrast and texture.”
Coolness, tranquillity and texture are characteristics that rise to the surface when describing Nutmeg and Savory, the two new 2009 colours of the DuPont Zodiaq Private Collection, says Ms Lawson.
Inspired by the restorative energy that emanates from trickling streams and rolling meadows, the quartz surface colours evoke a powerful yet refined aesthetic to catch the eye. Nutmeg and Savory aim to add a splash of calming movement to bustling lobbies, work spaces, retail stores and more.
“Architects and designers who envision interiors that are reflective of the graceful forces of nature will find these colours refreshing,” concludes Ms Lawson.