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Material World

Published: 22-Jan-2010

The surface design show next month offers an exclusive focus on the latest surface materials and products available

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Scoop out the latest, greatest and even the unfathomable in surfaces from brands you know, and new brands you need to know, at this year’s Surface Design Show. Held at the Building Design Centre on 16, 17 and 18 February, it’s the only UK show exclusively focused on interior and exterior surfaces.

The former Mayor of London Ken Livingston, joined by economists, engineers and others, will kick it all off with a live debate organized by RIBA for the opening of the preview night on 16 February.

Titled This House Believes the Road to Recovery is Paved With…, the discussion will explore options for business, governance, ecology and society in 2010. On the brink of a new decade and with an election looming, the debate will tackle questions like what will be the policies and ideas that mould towns and cities in the future. And, what can be done to ensure recovery in the UK does not revert to bad habits in good times?

RIBA will also host lunchtime lectures profiling two landmarks from its London 2009 awards. On 18 February, an hour-long iscussion and Q&A session with Grim Shaw Architects will look at the drivers behind the UCL Cancer Institute: Paul O’Gorman Building and the material considerations of this healthcare design project. The session on 17 February will looks at concrete and housing design by S333 Architects for the Tarling Estate in East London.

The Green Surfaces Zone is back, following its successful launch last year when a dedicated space was given over to suppliers of sustainable, recyclable and renewable materials. Green-specific seminars are being held by Building Research Establishment (BRE) and the Construction Products Association (CPA).

BRE’s Green Guide Theatre will also delve into responsible sourcing and examine environmental credentials in-detail on 17 and 18 February. The seminar programmer will introduce tools like its rating systems, Environmental Profiles and the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), which is used in the BRE’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). A presentation on the last day will focus on using all these concepts specifically for flooring.

With the new energy efficiency regulations being implemented in April, the CPA is dedicating one of its seminars to discussing how the changes will affect surface materials, while sustainability policy adviser Jane Thornback will highlight BRE and BSI standards, and give examples of materials and sectors recently certified.

See www.surfacedesignshow.com for details. While the information we’ve given was correct at the time of publication, please check online for any last minute changes.

This article was first published in FX Magazine.