Materia Newsletter January 2007

This is the Materia News Letter for January 2007, packed full of new materials, events and information. For your material inspiration, read on!

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The Material Explorer has been updated with 20 new materials. You can see them here. Below the selection of the latest additions:


Xiriton		Golden Tile		Terrazzo Luminoso		Terrazzo Lumineo		Dutch Design Collection


Woven wood		Ply		Luccon		Lignasil		Luminescent Textile


Tiger Oak		MR Fluid		Renewal		Gravel Floor		Urban Velvet LU


Flowstone		Cameleon		Atlantique		Project-relacted Ceramics		Microthin

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Marmoleum has long been reputed as a quality material, consisting of robust natural components such as linseed oil, resins, wood flour, pigments and jute. Furthermore, manufacturer Forbo radiates innate Dutch reliability and has now linked this to the icons of Dutch Design.

The latest collection consists of 12 new kinds, each designed by a Dutch designer. No random mixing of colours here; inspired by paintings, the sun, the smell of grass, Dutch immigrants, bare skin and reclaimed timber, the entire collection provides a marvellous reflection of Dutch sobriety and austerity. Read on >>

Dutch Designers with their own marmoleum design: (from left to right, from top downwards) Marcel Wanders, Saar Oosterhof, Edward van Vliet, Claudy Jongstra, Piet Hein Eek, Evelyne Merkx, Jurgen Bey, Miriam van der Lubbe, Li Edelkoort, Richard Hutten, Kiki van Eijk and Irma Goedemondt.

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In 1974 Wolf H. Hilbertz professor of architecture first researched using thick electrodeposited calcareous deposits as a marine construction material. This sea water derived electroaccreted construction material is commonly referred to as "seament" or "seacrete." The use of electrodeposited calcareous deposits (solidified calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide) for the corrosion protection of metals immersed in sea water has been researched for over a half century.

Left: the copper structure before electroaccretion, middle and right: during the process (under water)

Since that time a number of futurist visionaries such as Wolf Hilbertz, Eugene Tsui and Marshall Savage have proposed the construction of artificial island ocean cities using electroaccreted seament as the primary structural material.

In addition to obtaining seament from the ocean using electroaccretion, Marshall Savage proposed constructing the metal accretion framework from magnesium extracted from sea water. The now easy availability of summaries of Professor Hilbertz's scientific work via Internet patent archives, along with the publication of Marshall Savage's popular literature book has created a new interest in exploring the possibilities of this technology.

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The premiere of our newest exhibition was a success! During the BAU 2007 fair in Munich 'Interaction' attracted thousands of visitors. Next to the beautiful new design of the pavilion, the new content featuring interactive materials was much appreciated by architects and other interested people.

If you missed the premiere of 'Interaction': please hurry! The next stop of this travelling exhibition will be at the International Bouwbeurs trade fair in Utrecht, The Netherlands, to be held from 5 to 10 February. Meet Materia in Hall 1 stand nr. E044. Visit www.bouwbeurs.nl for more information.

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The many requests for our latest book ‘Material Skills, evolution of materials’ have led us to open our own Materia WebShop, where you can order online and pay by credit card. All orders are processed automatically and shipped by our distributor. If you have not yet ordered your own copy of "Material Skills, evolution of materials", go to our WebShop and order now!

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As you know, Materia is constantly on the lookout for materials with special sensorial or technical properties, or used in a special way. If you have any suggestions or tips for new materials or new applications of materials, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@materia.nl.