Rabih Hage Turns Leftover Dupont Corian Into A Modern Furniture Collection.

To launch the new colors of Dupont Corian® for 2012, Corian® presented an international exhibition at Milan Design Week titled “Corian® Colour Evolution.” As part of the exhibition, UK designer Rabih Hage proposed original products made with 'leftovers' from the new colours of DuPont™ Corian®, alone or in combination with other materials.




The Leftover Collection

The focus of Rabih’s four designs is on the use of leftover material and its reuse, treating the off-cuts and discarded planks used in the building of furniture as a “noble material”, reused in new luxurious furniture pieces.

“Leftover Table” desk or dining table:




“I have always been fascinated by unused material or discarded cuts of stone, wood or metal whether chea or expensive. Reusing these materials as a luxury product and treating the off-cuts as something precious is my real motivation. Especially, DuPont™ Corian®, which I regard as a luxurious material. I like the imperfection in patinated antique pieces, and the patina of time is something impossible to imitate, therefore, authentic. To get closer to this authenticity I regard the random layering of off-cuts as a noble design gesture and authentic in the building of my new designs for “Corian® Colour Evolution”. Imperfection is beauty; a discarded material is as noble and precious as a newly polished stone,” explains Rabih Hage.

"Colour Console” bookshelf:



“Colour Chair” desk chair:


“Leftover Armchair” visitors chair:



Rabih Hage, Design by Rabih Hage, Fabrication by Clarendon Fabrications, photos by Leo Torri for DuPont™ Corian®


About the designer:


Rabih Hage is an Architect, Designer, Curator and owner of Rabih Hage Design Studio and Rabih Hage Gallery. Rabih creates beautiful interiors and architecture with a cutting edge and creative vision. Rabih Hage contributes frequently to various publications and his work has been recognised with numerous awards including the Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year in 2011.

Since 2001, Rabih has dedicated himself to contemporary design, architecture and creative collaborations, which lead him to discovering new talents and pioneering design and design-art. With a forward thinking approach Rabih Hage curates cutting edge furniture and works from up-and-coming designers and established talents, whilst directing his creative team at his Design Studio working on international interior and architecture projects with a unique vision. In 2008 Rabih Hage created the Rough Luxe Hotel which triggered a worldwide movement in design. Hage has established himself as a reference in new hotel concepts and developments, working with international hoteliers and developers, most recently completing the front or house of the Radisson Edwardian Guildford Hotel.

DuPont Corian®

Z. Island. A Kitchen Collaboration Between Zaha Hadid, Ernestomeda and Corian.

The multi-sensorial kitchen


"Z.Island" is not simply a project created in order to astonish people and make them talk. The kitchen area conceived by architect Zaha Hadid in collaboration with Ernestomeda and DuPont brings with it concrete innovations that will be useful for future production and that involve the processing of the materials, the structural organisation and the integration of advanced technologies.




Malleable materials, fluid environment
Corian®, the raw material used for the creation, is an exceptionally malleable element that is perfect for meeting the creative requirements of an architect renowned for the complexity of her designs. No longer restricted to isolated elements, such as the worktops or sinks, Corian® has now been used to create an entire kitchen structure (split into two blocks, which are at the same time functional, compact and sleek) and an extensive modular range of cupboards and panelling. The surface is translucent, smooth and fluid, and is as pleasant to look at as it is to touch.




Sophisticated instruments
The cooking island (with hob and hotplate) is extended and curves along the right hand edge; the washing island (with sink, draining area and completely hidden built-in dishwasher) is hexagonal and compact.



The horizontal surface of the former is provided with a scrolling LED script, while there is also a spotlight, an LCD screen and, slightly lower down, an mp3 player, two USB ports and a CD or DVD player. The central working area houses an induction hob, a food preparation area and a hotplate built into the Corian® worktop. Finally, from here it is possible to release special fragrances through three aromatic scent dispensers to permeate throughout the entire kitchen area.

Wall panelling


Complementary wall-mounted cupboards and wall panelling are available: the former made using shaped wavy doors in Corian®, set into an aluminium frame. The wall panels, instead, (alternate flat and shaped Corian® surfaces produced by means of a heat-shaping system) incorporate an advanced sound system and sophisticated LED panel: thus each panel becomes an original source of sounds, music and coloured lights that can filter through the material in the desired sequence.

The touch control panel
Now, sensorial involvementis complete: whoever is doing the cooking can, if they so wish, navigate on the web, download e-mail, watch a film or set up a programme of songs to listen to. Not only: by the use of lighting sequences and the measured release of aromatic essences appropriate for the occasion, it is possible to create fascinating and customised environmental effects.




All the programming is done through a control panel, of the "touch control" type, situated at the centre of the “cooking” area (lit by blue LEDs), from where it is simple to access the kitchen’s multitude of functions.

"Z.Island" at the New York Guggenheim
In 2006 "Z.Island" kitchen has been at the New York Guggenheim Museum’s monographic hall dedicated to the work of Zaha Hadid. In this prestigious venue this extraordinary project has found an ideal exhibition context amongst magnificent paintings, adventurous designs, photos and furnishings that bear testimony of and illustrate the visionary world of this, the only woman ever to have been awarded the Pritzker Prize for architecture.

Z.Island is available on demand at Ernestomeda
Related Links:

• Zaha Hadid
  (http://www.zaha-hadid.com)
• DuPont
  (http://www2.dupont.com)
• Guggenheim Museum’s
  (http://www.guggenheim.org)
• Pritzker Prize
  (http://www.pritzkerprize.com)

Corian®: 40 years, 40 Designers

above: David Rockwell's Golden Grain, made of Corian®

DuPont, the manufacturer of Corian, has marked the composite material’s 40th birthday by commissioning 40 designers to create products using the material.

Solid Surface Innovator Marks 40 Years of International Design Excellence

WILMINGTON, Del., May 15, 2007 - To mark its 40th anniversary and its continued leadership in innovative and contemporary design, DuPont™ Corian® presents the exhibition, “40 Years/40 Designers.” DuPont invited 40 multinational designers to create an original, functional ‘objet d’art’ for the table or desktop that reflects their imaginative vision and demonstrates the endless possibilities of Corian® .

After being unveiled at the 2007 Milan Salone del Mobile, the exhibition will be shown at Design Within Reach – Chelsea in New York City from May 19 – 31. Additionally, several of the objects will be showcased at the DuPont booth during the upcoming International Contemporary Furniture Fair® (ICFF), North America’s singular showcase for contemporary design May 19 – 22 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Some of the featured designers include: Werner Aisslinger, the duo, Laura Aquili & Ergian Alberg, Harry Allen, Matali Crasset, Jeffrey Bernett, Christian Ghion, Arik Levy, Ximo Roca, David Rockwell, Martin Ryan, Katrina Olina Young.


above: Luca Casini's mirror fruit bowls made of Corian®

“Since the 1967 introduction of the solid surface category by DuPont, Corian® has earned trust and respect as a proven design material with an ever-increasing variety of innovative uses,” said Tom Powell, vice president and general manager – DuPont Building Innovations. “This exhibition demonstrates how Corian® enables designers to push the boundaries of how we use and see objects.”

“Our contribution to this exhibition merges fine craftsmanship with advanced technology to create a rich, yet subtle metallic wood grain pattern. The end result – Gold Grain tabletop objects and occasional tables – are a sophisticated and glamorous play on the natural and the manmade,” said David Rockwell, of the Rockwell Group. “Due to the Corian® high tech material and the organic feel of the decorative tabletop design, we were able to evoke both glamour and wit, mimicking nature with subtly glittering man-made materials.”


Above: Katrina Olina Young's Demons and Daises placemants made of Corian®

The genuinely functional objects highlight the inherent characteristics of Corian®, such as its formability, its expansive range of colors, and its ability to be routed, lighted and engraved. Non-porous Corian® is a high-performing, easy to clean, stain-resistant solid surface material that is durable and renewable. Scratches are easily removed without marring its beauty and uniformity of color. Available in over 140 colors, Corian® can be thermoformed or shaped into virtually any conceivable design, as well as sandblasted, routed, carved, laser-etched and backlit.


Above: Monika Kobiakov's desk set made of Corian®

DuPont Building Innovations is a strategic business unit of DuPont that manufactures and markets Corian® solid surfaces and Zodiaq® quartz surfaces. DuPont™ Corian® is a well-known global brand in the solid surface category.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.


above: Harry Allen's Tic Tac Toe, made of Corian®

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of DuPont™ Corian® solid surface material, DuPont has presented in Milan (April 18 to 23, at the new “Corian® Design – Milano Store” showroom of DuPont), “Corian®: 40 Years - 40 Designers”, a travelling exhibition consisting of new creations by 40 designers (individual professionals, design studios or design teams) from around the world. After having been exhibited in Milan, the exhibition will be moved to other locations in Europe and in the USA. A selection of these objects will be produced in limited edition and commercialized.

The 40 designers participating in “Corian®: 40 Years - 40 Designers” are:
01) Aquili Alberg, Italy
02) Arik Levy, France
03) Atrium (Anton Nadtochy & Vera Butko), Russia
04) Beat Karrer, Switzerland
05) Christian Ghion, France
06) Christine Van Gemert, The Netherlands
07) David Rockwell, USA
08) Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, Austria
09) Demet Bilici, Turkey
10) Emma Lewis, UK
11) Francesco Draisci & Paolo D'Ippolito, UK
12) Gamze Güven, Turkey
13) Graft, Germany
14) Hans Schoonemeijer (HP Design), The Netherlands
15) Harry Allen, USA
16) Igor.MarQ arquitectos & Pedro Nuñez, Spain
17) Imogen Lawson, UK
18) India Mahdavi, France
19) Ingenhoven Architekten, Germany
20) Jeffrey Bernett, USA 21) John Sebastian, Denmark
22) Katrin Olina Young, Iceland 23) Luca Casini, Italy
24) Marie Garnier, France
25) Martin Ryan, UK
26) Matali Crasset, France
27) Matteo Ragni, Italy
28) Miguel Milá, Spain
29) Miriam Mirri, Italy
30) Monika Kobiakov, UK
31) Nils Kjeldsen, Denmark 32) Noé Duchafour-Lawrance, France
33) Nucleo (Piergiorgio Robino, Stefania Fersini), Italy 34) Piers Mansfield-Scadden, UK 35) Savinkin-Kuzmin project group (Poledesign), Russia 36) sieger design (Benedikt Sauerland), Germany
37) Tanju Ozelgin, Turkey
38) Werner Aisslinger, Germany
39) Ximo Roca, Spain
40) YES Architecture (Ruth Berktold), Germany

See all the work here.