Sharing innovative surface materials and interior colour trends is what we’re all about here at Material Lab, and getting to do so beyond the four walls of the studio is something that we relish. We loved pulling together some of our favourite surface material makers and manufacturers for the Surface and Materials Show Hub space last October, so much so, that we’re going back to do it again.
Between 10 and 12 October 2017, the NEC in Birmingham will play host to the biggest construction, building and materials event on the annual trade show calendar. The UK Construction Show is made up of nine exhibitions and the Surface & Materials Show is the jewel in its crown. The Hub acts as both an informative seminar space and a platform for some of the most exciting and innovative materials and surface solutions around – as selected by our very own editor-at-large, Jim Biddulph, who is also charged with designing the entire space.
This year, we have some familiar names acting as our sponsors. They include Johnson Tiles, Formica and Flowcrete, all of which will be showcasing the very latest material collections. The hub will also offer an opportunity to see the Dulux Colour of the Year palette, Heart Wood, following the launch of ColourFuturesTM 2018 earlier this week.
Serving as a beautiful backdrop to the space, guests will also bear witness to one of the freshest designs from leading UK wallpaper and textile designer Kit Miles. Carefully selected to work in conjunction with the Heart Wood palette, the sumptuous colourway, stunning pattern and sheer scale of the wallpaper on display will be an absolute showstopper in its own right.
This year, there will be an international flavour to add to the mix of pioneering exhibitors, with three of the five joining us from overseas. We’ll have recycled leather and felt surfaces from Dutch innovators Buxkin. Italian brand Sailmaker International will be showcasing a range of its I-Mesh designs, a material that offers the graphic aesthetic of a mesh with the flexibility of a fabric. Loco Design will be bringing a host of its beautifully crafted luxury surfaces from India, and guests will be treated to some of the latest designs from UK pair, Amron Associates and Alusid.
The latter will be enthralling us with some of its newest recycled material creations, while Amron Associates will attempt to showcase a cross section of its many stunning architectural metal meshes, which as well as being beautiful, can also be used for almost anything.
In addition, we’ll be treating visitors to view the work of five of the newest, most interesting and promising surface material designers on the block. Jim has carefully selected our ‘Innovators’ from graduate shows from around the country. With a number of the designers working with recycled content in the creation of the materials, our current theme, Reuse/Relife, will have a strong presence within the space and will hopefully challenge visitors to join the wider debate about where materials come from and how they are made. Watch this space to find out more about the graduates from Birmingham City University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Bucks New University, University of Dundee and Bath Spa University.
For more information about the Surface & Materials Show visit the UK Construction Show website. And follow us on Instagram @MaterialLab for further updates.
