China is becoming one of the most exciting construction markets in the world. It’s a nation with a young, vibrant and creative design community, recently come of age and producing highly original and ambitious architecture.
Neolith®, the pioneering brand of Sintered Stone, is witnessing a significant uptake from Chinese design and construction professionals since it arrived in the territory in 2012. A recent surge in popularity has seen the surface specified for all types of interior and exterior projects, from countertops in high-end residential kitchens to the facades of soaring skyscrapers.
Teaming up with Chinese distributor TechSize and Willow Design Co. Ltd, over 550 m2 of Neolith has been specified throughout a unique showroom in Shenzhen, Guangdong. One of China’s most famous ‘creative cities’, it’s the perfect location in which to highlight the surface’s versatility and unique collection of colors and patterns.
The Light Fantastic
The role of shadow and light played an integral part in the conceptual development of the design, with the designers keen to show how Neolith could be playfully illuminated to provoke a dramatic visual impact
One such installation is a corridor specified in Aspen Grey and shot through with LED strip-lighting. This was programmed to light up in a cascade as someone walks through.
Lighting was also strategically placed throughout the showroom to throw the various Neolith slabs into relief, helping to make specific applications, such as the minimalist cantilevered staircase clad in Iron Moss stand out.
Grand Scale
The Neolith TechSize showroom interiors have been built on a grand scale. In the central area, the walls are clad in moody, muted Basalt Black which frames full-size slabs of polished Estatuario, Calacatta, Nero Marquina, Mont Blanc, Mar Del Plata, and many other popular Neolith colors and patterns.
The specification truly embraces Neolith’s 360° vision, appropriate for application on any surface from floors, walls, and ceilings to countertops, furniture, and even staircases.
This expansive vision is not delivered at a sacrifice to the finer details, with the majority of the furnishings throughout the space also surfaced in Neolith. Highlights include a set of curved, multi-layered benches in Zaha Stone.
Perfect Match
Symmetry and continuity were important thematic considerations for the designers. They wanted to display Neolith’s ability to achieve seamless designs, yet also deliver visual contrast. One area of the showroom where this was perfectly realized is in the boardroom.
Two further walls in the showroom’s central area and entranceway highlight consistency and juxtaposition. One is a complete wall delivered in Calacatta, the other a frenetic one in which square cut tiles of Estatuario are placed asymmetrically to each other. This latter effect is further enhanced by the presence of an expansive reception desk in Iron Moss.
About Neolith
All Neolith slabs are 100% natural and produced in a carbon neutral environment, making them appropriate for specification in any professional or residential surfacing application. Neolith is also a safe and hygienic material, never compromising on performance and visual appeal.
