2009 New York Design Week Download - Durat Bench by Karim Rashid
After a successful launch in NYC last week, Durat is now in stock and ready for use by the architect and design community. Durat, which comes in over 70 colors, contains 30-50% recycled content. During Design Week, we exhibited Durat at a Finnish design event in the meatpacking district. A curvaceous Durat bench designed by Karim Rashid was the star of the show which utlized the range of Durat colors that are available with its stripes of pink, lime green, black, gray, and white. Durat tables and sinks in a vivid array of colors were also on display amongst other products from Finnish design companies, such as Marimekko.
Manufacturing, Design, and the Art in Recycling in Finland
Whenever possible, we visit our manufacturers facilities so that we can become educated and verify claims. In this case, in September, I traveled to Helsinki Finland and then hopped on bus to Turku where I met up with the team from Durat for a lesson in manufacturing, design, and the art in recycling.
Ulla Tuominen is the artist behind the beautiful colors and shapes that make Durat’s product line so unique. I was able to spend a day with Ulla and see the world through her eyes. First, we toured the manufacturing facility. I learned that the specks in Durat are the recycled content and the ending number of the color code indicates the type of recycled content – clear, white, black, large, small, multicolored, etc. Durat has partnerships with various manufacturers in Finland and neighboring Sweden to collect their waste plastics. The waste material is processed at the manufacturing facility where it goes through a process of being cleaned, stripped of any extraneous materials, and ground into the granular material.
Then, to the color lab. Where little samples of any color you can possibly imagine lie everywhere you look. Some colors are standard, others inspired by a clients vision – such as #810 where the client requested the color of a ‘granny smith apple’. When the wild colors combine with the recycled materials, the possibilities seem endless. Some of the projects that were being fabricated the day that I visited included a ‘granny smith apple’ colored tub, a dozen custom vanities with integrated sinks that were going into an office building, and free-standing Torni (Tower in English) sinks.
While I have long admired the material and designs of Durat, observing the manufacturing process inspired me to think about the potential for large scale custom projects such as hotels, office buildings, dorms, etc.
We drove from the manufacturing facility in Rymättylä to the Helsinki showroom located in the Design District in the center of the city. An area full of design and antique shops, fashion stores, museums, art galleries, restaurants and showrooms. In a restored warehouse, Durat’s showroom blends seamlessly with Artek, founded by the visionary modern architect (and Finnish design legend) Alvar Aalto. Taking recycling to new heights, I learned that Artek bought back original and vintage Aalto stools and chairs from schools, libraries and individuals and has resold them under the label 2nd Cycle. These 2nd Cycle gems were resold with their worn character intact, no refinishing.
Between the Artek and Durat showrooms the art of recycling took many functional, modern, and inspiring forms.
Duke Energy Tower Goes for LEED Gold
The newest addition to Charlotte’s skyline is the 54-story Duke Energy Center, located on South Tryon Street. To demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, the shell building is going for a LEED Gold rating, and all tenants have been asked to meet a minimum of LEED Silver for their spaces. Some of the features in place to earn the Gold rating include water saving features such as waterless urinals, dual flush water closets, and low flow lavatories. Storm water, ground water, and condensate will be collected to irrigate the green roof, and to offset potable water consumption for the cooling tower. Energy consumption has been optimized through various approaches such as high efficiency mechanical equipment, daylighting blinds and photosensors, along with dimmable ballasts. Indoor environmental quality has been addressed with low-emitting materials, increased ventilation, and thermal comfort control. And 90% of the indoor space will have access to views of the outside, with 75% having access to daylight.
As for materials, a minimum of 50% of construction waste was diverted from landfills, at least 20% of all materials will have recycled content, and at least half of the wood products will meet FSC guidelines. Caragreen is proud to be a part of this project; we supplied Durat solid surface material and UltraTouch cotton denim insulation. Durat contains 30% recycled plastic and has been used in break rooms for countertops. And, UltraTouch insulation has 85% recycled and rapidly renewable content and is used throughout the building.
Durat Counters and Eco-Gres Asia Tile Featured in Interior Designer’s Kitchen Remodel
Kitchens and Baths magazine by Woman’s Day recently covered the remodel of Ulla Lange’s kitchen, in which she used Durat for countertops and Eco-Gres Asia tile for a backsplash (both available through CaraGreen).
Ulla lives in a 1960s ranch home in Boulder, Colorado and is an interior designer with a masters degree in architecture. Her old kitchen was cramped and disorganized, unlike the rest of her airy home, so she decided to become her own client and embark on an environmentally-friendly remodel of the space. She gutted the room and altered the layout to make it more functional and inviting. Ulla selected Durat solid surface material, which contains 30% pre-consumer recycled content, for countertops. She used a warm-gray Durat color along walls, and for a center peninsula, she used a heavenly blue shade. “I wanted splashes of color to keep it fresh, but not so much that it would be overwhelming” said Ulla. She also used two shades of Eco-Gres Asia recycled porcelain tile for her backsplash, a pale blue and wheat-gray. These 1" x 6" tiles contain 36% pre-consumer recycled content. For cabinetry, she used locally produced, formaldehyde-free cabinets with a wheatboard core. For cabinet doors, some are white melamine and others are 3form eco-resin with capiz shells embedded in between layers. To complete her remodel, she upgraded her old appliances for new energy efficient ones and put in long-lasting halogen bulbs for lighting. The final result is a modern kitchen that is practical, fun, and environmentally conscientious.
Durat Used In NYC Bachelor Pad Redesign - Madison Green
Durat has been used for kitchen countertops in Madison Green condominium in New York City. Architect, Lawrence V. Macdonald Jr. of COLVM, and General Contractor, Artistic License Interiors, recently updated this space for its bachelor owner. Madison Green uses unconventional materials at every turn: exposed original concrete columns and ceilings, custom concrete floor tiles, curved cedar ceiling and walls, bamboo vanities, slate tile, and walls clad in cork and solid walnut. Durable and eco-friendly Durat, available through CaraGreen, was used for countertops, which contains 30% recycled content. To add to the minimal and sleek design, appliances are hidden in custom fin-ply cabinets. The space is illuminated by an original lighting array of cove-mounted colored LEDs and halogen recessed lighting. One unexpected feature is the completely transparent star-fire low iron glass wall in the bathroom, which allows the client to enjoy the stunning views of the Chrysler building from his tub!
Custom Red Durat Sinks In Vibes Media Offices
CaraGreen recently visited the new Vibes Media office in downtown Chicago, which features custom Durat sinks and counters. Eastlake Studio, an innovative Chicago-based architecture and interior design firm, designed the space for Vibes Media. They selected Durat #450, a fire-engine red, for the bathrooms. The long custom trough sinks have three faucets each. The sinks are angled so that the water exits through one drain on a far end. The sinks and countertops are one continuous integral piece. Durat, available through CaraGreen, is an environmentally friendly solid surface material that contains 30% recycled content, is 100% recyclable, and comes in an impressive range of brilliant colors. Eastlake used leftover Durat to create a bench in their employee locker room.
Treat Cupcake Bar Brightens Space with Pink and Yellow Durat
C & J Katz Studio, the designers for the newly opened Treat Cupcake Bar in Needham, MA, used Durat sheet goods in the shop’s design. Jeffrey Katz told CaraGreen that “the shop is aimed at ‘tween' customers, so the idea was to create a bright, happy interior space.” They established a color palette for the interior based on graphics developed by Treat’s graphic design firm.
Katz said, “As we were researching materials, we found a couple of the unusual
colors that we were looking for in the Durat range.” Durat is available in over 80 colors and custom colors are also available. The colors have an intensity and vibrancy to them that make Durat ideal for delivering a punch of color to a space.
At Treat Cupcake Bar, customers can create their own cupcake by selecting the cake flavor, frosting, and toppings. They mix the toppings into the frosting and Katz told us that the other requirement for the material was that it needed to function for the mix-ins, which are prepared directly on the counter in view of the customer. They "ordered a large sample and sent it to the baker so she could test the surface. It worked. So the combination of color, functionality, and durability lead us to specify Durat,” said Katz. Durat was used for work surfaces, a built-in along the window, and to frame the cupcake display. Katz said the response to the store has been excellent, both to the cupcakes and
the design of the space.
For more information on Durat, click here.
Durat Glows at The Art Institute of Chicago’s Terzo Piano Restaurant
Terzo Piano Restaurant, located within the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago, used Durat tabletops in its elegant and predominantly white design. Durat, available through CaraGreen, is a solid surface material that contains at least 30% recycled content and is 100% recyclable. The tabletops, made from brilliant white Durat practically glow, as the space has large areas of windows and amazing natural light that radiates off the surface. The restaurant, which can seat 250 patrons, was the work of Dirk Denison Architects. The space was designed so that the restaurant would continue the experience of the museum into the dining area. There are display cabinets that rotate pieces from the Museum’s collection and bring character into the various dining areas. A critical aspect of the design was the concept of changeability, as the restaurant is lunch-only, but the space doubles as a banquet space for private evening events. To accommodate this duality, there are movable furniture pieces and flexible seating arrangements. And, the white palette allows guests to dress the room as they see fit. To learn more about Durat, contact us.
Durat in First LEED Certified New York Public Library in Manhattan
Durat solid surface material was used in The Battery Park City Branch of the New York Public Library. This LEED Gold facility is the first LEED certified branch in Manhattan. It is 11,000 SQFT and anchors the first two floors of the city’s greenest residential high-rise to date. 1100 Architects designed the open and bright space, which provides a welcoming environment for the public.
Durat’s playful colors and sustainability profile made the material fitting for the project and it was used for the shells of bookcases as well as worktops. Blue, orange, green, and white sheets were fabricated into brilliant modern furniture by Dimaio Millwork. Durat contains 30% recycled content and is 100% recyclable.
The branch houses a collection of over 23,000 items, separate reading areas for children, young adults, and adults, a multipurpose programming space, and access to 36 public computers. “This project illustrates the possibilities for a new urban future that incorporates environmental responsibility with the type of vibrant and dynamic design that enriches the public sphere.” says 1100 Architects website and we couldn’t agree more.
For more information on Durat or to receive samples, contact us.
Visual Studies Initiative at Duke Creates Durat Bench To Mirror Logo
The Visual Studies Initiative at Duke University converted their logo into benches made of Durat. The logo, which was designed by Chair, Hans Van Miegroet, is a colored barcode design. After a steering committee member saw Durat’s Raita bench in a magazine, the striking resemblance to The Visual Studies Initiative logo got them thinking the benches would be a great addition to their space. The idea gained momentum and CaraGreen worked with Durat and Duke to facilitate the custom order. Rachael Brady, co-director of the initiative, put the logo into Photosho p, pixelated it, counted the relative width of the stripes, and made it into a spreadsheet that was given to Durat for manufacturing. With Durat’s extensive color selection, the logo colors were easy to match. To efficiently ship the benches, both in regards to cost and carbon emissions, eight Durat bench tops were ordered without the bases. Duke opted to have the bases made by a local metalsmith, Leo Gaev, who was able to replicate Durat’s design.
The benches are installed at their two facilities, one of which is an old warehouse, and the modern aesthetic complements its urban industrial feel. The benches are also functional for the space, which is bustling with students. The durable material is easily cleaned. Rachael Brady told CaraGreen that the benches “helped the branding of the department and had been extremely well received.”
For samples of Durat or more information on custom Durat furniture, contact us.
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