Materia Newsletter September 2007

This is the Materia News Letter for September 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:


Soyol		Barkcloth HPL		Tectan Board		Claytec		Droptec


Flexint		Gumnetic		Laricross		Wood look		Liquid Shell


CD		Natural Rubber		UPM Profi		Rastra		Silicone Rubber


Aluminium Mesh		Barktex Latex		Cast-Iron Panels		Leather Wall Tile		Zinc Foam

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The former power station in Rotterdam has been converted into a multifunctional building for companies active in the field of sound and vision, including the offices for the regional TV and radio station, RTV. Architect Robert Winkel from Mei Architects in Rotterdam wanted the façade to refer back to the building’s former function and its location: an industrial and port area. The architect’s aim was for the RTVR building to reflect the industrial pollution of its past, and he found inspiration for this in the old-fashioned manhole cover. “We didn’t want to use bricks, they are too memorable of domestic housing; the material had to be industrial.” For now the untreated cast-iron panels are orange coloured, but they will turn dark brown once they start to rust. The rusty run-off water will be literally filthy, but will be safely drained away. “Architecture is all about managing mistakes” says Winkel. “Why should we always have to design Claudia Schiffer-like buildings? A little bit of filth and grime can’t do any harm. Directing mistakes, that is an architect’s job. Everything is so uniform in the Netherlands. What we really need is beautiful and dirty.” The panels were produced by Elcee.

Untreated Cast-iron panels used for the RTVR building in Rotterdam. Design by Mei Architects.

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Through intensive material research designer Anna Bullus has invented a new material called Gumnetic. It is a biodegradable composite made from recycled chewed chewing gum and bio resin. Varying ratios of the mixture result in different textures. Making it a versatile material. For instance for the”Gumnetic”; a street side refuse designed for the disposal of gum and is made from recycled chewing gum. The product offers a unique and practical solution to a widespread problem housed within an innovative sustainable process; the bin itself collects raw material in the form of discarded chewing gum from which to produce new bins. Anna has gone on to make other products that explore both the application of this unique material and the sustainability education opportunities it provokes.

Ever thought of chewinggum as a material for products?

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Materia Exposition: Materia has been invited by the Dutch Consulate in Canada, the organisation of the IIDEX and the organisation of the Design Exchange to organise an Materia exposition at both the IIDEX and the Design Exchange about sustainable materials from September 27 to November 19, 2007.

Materia has been invited by the organisation of the BIS fair in Gent, Belgium from 6 to 14 October 2007 to organise especially for this fair an exposition about innovative environmently friendly materials. Materials that can store energy, or have excellent insulation properties, or are made of natural organic fibers and other renewable materials, even made of chewing gum! How can we use natural sources with respect for nature.

Physical Building Materials for Architecture. Not only aesthetic qualities but also the physical building qualities of materials will be shown during The Noise, Vibration and Air Quality (GTL) Trade Fair at Nieuwegein (the Netherlands) on 6-7 November 2007. Materia will be presenting an exhibition with materials that cushion vibrations, absorb noise, purify the air and regulate moisture; in order to improve the physical comfort of the internal and external living climate. On 6 November, Els Zijlstra of Materia will be giving a lecture about various materials that offer a solution to these problems. For further information please check; www.gtlcongres-beurs.nl (Dutch only). The congress will be conducted also in Dutch.

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Our corporate site www.materia.nl and the materials search engine www.materialexplorer.com will be incorporated in the knowledgebase www.materia.nl this month. With this new knowledgebase, Materia is able to give you access to a worldwide platform in the field of material information.

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The many requests for our book ‘Material Skills, evolution of materials’ have led us to open our own WebShop of Materia, where you can order online and pay by credit card. 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.