MATERIAL CONNEXION® TO DEBUT A NEW LINE OF PROTOTYPES AT ICFF

A collaboration with the government of the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry, and CITEM, Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions.

New York, NY. April 2006. On May 20-23, 2006 at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York, Material ConneXion will preview “Transformation: Nature & Beyond,” an inspired materials development project initiated by Material Connexion and the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry.

This unique project explores new applications of Philippine indigenous materials. Not only do the individual items exemplify outstanding design creativity, but collectively they represent a bold plan to accelerate the economy of developing nations. George M. Beylerian, President & Founder of Material ConneXion states, “At ICFF, we aim to show the result of a very clever idea that is universal and can be adapted to other geographic areas.”

The Philippine Islands possess a wealth of natural materials and a long, rich history of skilled craftsmanship. Traditionally, these combined to produce the arts & crafts, decorative household items, gifts and accessories for which the Philippines have become well known. However, strenuous competition from China—which can make such products for less—has seriously threatened this income source. Beylerian, a visionary veteran furniture manufacturer, describes his method of circumnavigating the competition thus: “My solution was give up on the souvenir-shop trinkets and create more expensive things—the ad valorum concept. The added value would be big designer names from around the world who could create something with cachet that could be sold to architects and interior designers whose clients will pay a higher price for a substantial, enduring object. Sure these pieces can be copied by the Chinese, but there is less encouragement in that market because it is so exclusive.”

After visiting the Philippines and inspecting the manufacturing facilities there, Beylerian invited participating celebrity designers Gijs Bakker, Dror Benshetrit, Gregory and Judith Beylerian, Ed and Lor Calma, Clodagh, Tom Dixon, Doug Fitch, Paul and Barbara Haigh, Tom Hardy, Arik Lexy, Michele Oka Doner, Satyendra Pakhale, Karim Rashid, Shigeru Uchida, and Kevin Walz to participate in the project by designing modular building and decorative elements. Each designer received a kit of materials such as abaca fiber, bamboo, saguing (banana plant fiber), coconut shell, lahar (pumice), and nito (a supple fern) and was asked to select at least one material to transform into something precious—hence the exhibitions title. The Philippine government identified suitable manufacturers for the items.

Most of the furniture items, floor and ceiling tiles, and different kinds of screens developed through the initiative are still at the prototype stage, with testing needed to determine levels of both stability and environmental ratings (due to some of the resins used). However, having come this far, Beylerian is confident that testing and any necessary improvements can be made quickly. He says, “Basically, our role thus far has been one of consulting and developing projects and we would now be happy to take the next step.”

The exhibition’s reception at ICFF will inform the participating parties about the best ways to market and distribute the items. One line of furniture—benches, tables and stools designed by Karim Rashid—is already installed in the Semiramis Hotel, Athens, the location for which they were exclusively designed.

By highlighting the sophistication of natural materials, the “Transformation” exhibit at ICFF will undoubtedly generate interest in the Philippine marketplace. It is also expected to inform other materials-rich countries about Material ConneXion’s ability to open up new, vital markets globally.


About Material ConneXion: Founded by George M. Beylerian in 1997, Material ConneXion® is the world’s largest resource for new, innovative materials and processes. Headquartered in New York City, and with offices in Bangkok, Cologne, and Milan, Material ConneXion provides architects, engineers, industrial and interior designers with information, inspiration and innovation regarding new materials from a broad range of industries that are often overlooked or inaccessible to specifiers. Through Library Access subscriptions, specifiers and designers can access information on over 3,500 material samples in eight categories: ceramics, glass, metals, polymers, carbon based materials, cement based materials, natural materials and nature based derivatives. Complete access to the library is available through HYPERLINK "http://www.materialconnexion.com" HYPERLINK "http://www.materialconnexion.com" www.materialconnexion.com.

In addition to library access, the Advanced Material Solutions Team at Material ConneXion provides manufacturers, retailers, architects, design professionals and special project consultants with a competitive edge through advanced materials research, innovation marketing, “green” and sustainable materials, and custom material solutions tailored to specific projects. For further information about the Advanced Materials Solutions Team contact Stuart Glass at HYPERLINK "mailto:consulting@materialconnexion.com" consulting@materialconnexion.com.