Architect@Work 2024 highlights.

Innovative materials and design solutions

On Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 September, ARCHITECT@WORK celebrated its tenth edition in Rotterdam Ahoy. Architects and designers were once again inspired by innovative products and solutions during the event. In this report, we share some highlights.

Unlumited Lighting

Senior product manager Henk Schaap: "We really specialize in lighting solutions, and that matched well with the theme of the fair. With our new light lines in the Free Band series, which consists of the Panoray, Swaylux and Arcflex, architects can illuminate facades in a beautiful way. This can be done by placing them on the floor or milling them into the ground. We find that there is a great need for the flexibility we offer, such as dealing with corners or following contours. Swaylux is even drivable and unobtrusively protected against corrosion. "SAB Profile 

SAB Profile

"For us, it is important that architects know that we are working on new things and that almost anything is possible with our design profiles," says Frank de Vos, product manager for design profiles at SAB-profiel. "We like to think along with our customers and are at the forefront of innovation. We show this here with the new Colorcoat® SDP 50 coating. These colors are just a bit nicer, deeper and have more texture. In addition, the coating is also more scratch-resistant." At ARCHITECT@WORK, the company also showed a new blind fixing method to gauge what architects thought of it.

Hotbath

Ralph Korsten: "We are here to get to know even more architects. Of course, the sanitary specialist knows who we are, but we are also increasingly being discovered by architects. More and more often he is responsible for the finish in the house, and our products really make a design statement in a project. New is the ACE series. This is refined and sleeker, with a more rounded shape. What really sets this series apart are the two new finishes: brushed black PVD and polished black PVD."

Forbo Eurocol

Linda Wijnands, account manager: "Last time we were at ARCHITECT@WORK with Liquiddesign, and we are now building on this with Liquidglass. This is a liquid floor that incorporates recycled glass. This gives just a different look and feel. We are using ARCHITECT@WORK to gauge what professionals think of this and will develop the product further. So far, we have used 10% recycled glass, which provides a more marbled texture than Liquidglass Design features. There was immediate interest in the Liquidglass, so that's a very good sign."

ArcelorMittal Construction

ArcelorMittal Construction was present in Rotterdam with two different stands. Archicomm spoke with an enthusiastic Levi Kleinjan about the novelties of ArcelorMittal Construction Specials. "Of course we like to show something new, but we have a good story as a company anyway. One of the reasons we stand out is that our machine allows us to make profiles that are different from standard: narrower and deeper. Our new Creneo series is available in different heights and variable widths. Different types can also be used interchangeably. In addition, we can make the profiles exactly to size. Thus, we produce about 600 different colors per year, which is unique in the market."

DMLUX

The fair has yet to get underway when Archicomm visits DMLUX's booth. Nevertheless, the company has already received many good responses to its new lighting solutions, say two representatives. In the spotlight in particular was UNI-BRIGHT's Smart Tracklight. This advanced lighting system features sensors that optimize color rendering depending on the object being illuminated. At ARCHITECT@WORK, the company demonstrated this with garden gnomes in different colors. The Smart Tracklight can do even more, however, such as tracking how much traffic a particular product gets in a store.

DecoLegno

Solidsurface is a material that continues to gain popularity. Durasein is therefore a product familiar to many architects. In Rotterdam, DecoLegno showed a new development: using the Patternine technique, the company adds complex, three-dimensional structures to Durasein® Solid Surface. "We get good reactions to this," says a company spokesperson. "It is important to show professionals how they can apply this and where. The possibilities are endless; whether it's a kitchen builder or architect, they can put their creativity into this."

EeStairs

Rebecca van de Beek, marketing executive at EeStairs, explains what the company stands for. "First of all, we want to show that we create a wow effect with our stairs. We really deliver more than the standard product and this makes us interesting for architects and interior designers. Completely new was the EeSoffit™ system, with which EeStairs guarantees a perfectly seamless finish on the underside of stairs, even for the most complex geometries such as spiral or elliptical stairs. Moreover, this system can be installed much faster than traditional stucco."

GU Netherlands

Building hardware and access control are not the sexiest topics. Yet GU Netherlands shows that one system is not the other. "We have a super concept," says Marc van Ooijen. "Architects can see here that we offer more beautiful and playful solutions than those otherwise available in the market." One of these solutions is the Ixalo electronic locking system. With Ixalo, mechanical cylinders and electronic solutions can be flexibly combined. As desired, the system can be equipped with BKS' own system with SE technology or with RFID technology. "We also have a special inspiration magazine, in which we explain all the possibilities."

Niko Netherlands

Boudewijn Hoekstra, manager of projects at Niko Netherlands, says he has already had good conversations. "Our Niko Rocker and Niko Toggle design switches are being received positively. They also connect well with the target group that comes here, which is less interested in the technical side and more in the design of the products. And with these, it's spot on!"

Hollandfelt

Dutch wool felt specialist Hollandfelt is a loyal exhibitor. During this edition of the fair, the company showed 100% recycled wool felt, which is indistinguishable in appearance from the product with "virgin" material. In addition, the material is available in all the colors offered by Holland Felt. Thus, a product that is already sustainable in itself becomes even more sustainable.

Cosentino

"Designers are getting ahead of themselves," says Jacqueline van Tricht of Cosentino. "People can certainly appreciate the new colors of Silestone Le Chic Bohème, such as the trendy green color. In it, beautiful veins are visible and, importantly for the processor, the material is colored through and through. We want to show here how versatile the material is and stimulate the creativity of architects and designers."

Hunter Douglas Architectural

Acoustics is and will continue to be an important issue in construction and building design. Hunter Douglas Architectural, the market leader in ceilings, contributes to this with, for example, the offering of a felt slatted ceiling. "We have expanded our range even further," says Chris Wielenga. "There was a demand for panels with slim felt slats; we are responding to this with HeartFelt® Groove, which looks like a ceiling with slats 20 mm wide. We can also integrate lighting into this."

Kingspan

"Actually, it only takes a few good conversations," says Michel Verwaal of Kingspan. "This is not a mass fair, this is precisely where the architects we like to meet come." The company showed pictures of a special project in which it took on the challenge of creating a glass dome 12 meters high and 77 meters in diameter. "Glass roof structures from Kingspan Light + Air have unprecedented design flexibility, which allows almost any shape to be realized. So we always deliver customized solutions."

Livingceramics

Montapanel, the specialist in granite, composite and ceramic worktops, distributes the Lithotech brand from Spanish manufacturer Livingceramics exclusively in the Netherlands. Thanks to a special printing technique, this material has a realistic appearance and is also heat, scratch and stain resistant. Commercial director Renate Brem: "Unlike other brands, this resembles a natural product as much as possible. The relief even feels like real stone. The real designs are used to make Livingceramics products. Architects really understand this product and see the possibilities. We can supply the material for any surface and in any shape."

SVK

In a particularly creative booth, SVK managed to present as many of its facade panels as possible. Here, the Ornimat Design facade panel with a subtle shimmering metallic finish immediately caught the eye.