benjamin hubert collaborates with cosentino for milan design week 2019

british designer benjamin hubert has teamed up with surface specialist cosentino to create a large architectural installation for milan design week 2019. created through his studio layer, ‘raytrace’ features a 25-meter long and 6-meter high triangular passage seemingly balanced on a single edge within a dark, atmospheric space.

image and banner video by david zanardi

upon entering the passageway, a mesmerizing caustic pattern slowly dances across the surface, emulating the refraction of light through water – evoking the serene feeling of being underwater. as visitors walk through, they become an integral part of the installation, their shadows cast against the structure’s surface. two mirrors at either end of the vault reflect the installation, creating the illusion of an infinite space and offering glimpses of patterns playing out on the interior.

image by david zanardi

the installation uses cosentino‘s dekton® surface, an ultracompact material made up of over 20 natural minerals. hubert’s design reference its technological qualities and production methods to create a dramatic, interactive experience showcasing the harmony between nature, light and architecture.

image by david zanardi

‘the creation of dekton® is a highly technological process that emulates the metamorphic changes that naturally occur with stone,’ says benjamin hubert, founder of LAYER. ‘the extraction of water using extreme heat and pressure throughout the manufacturing process is what makes dekton® a durable material most suited for architecture.’

image by david zanardi

‘raytrace is a direct response to this method – we take the idea of water and architecture, two integral themes in the conception of dekton®, and create an architectural structure, filled with an immersive caustic lighting effect – a powerful combination of architecture and nature.‘

image by david zanardi

raytrace will be exhibited in the historical vaulted warehouses beneath milan’s central train station as part of the third edition of ventura centrale. the iconic backdrop of these arched spaces will house installations by internationally renowned brands and designers, making it a must-see destination during milan design week 2019.

image by david zanardi

visitors will enter the space created by two large dekton pieces, the caustic spheres will generate a reflective pattern of light

mirrors at either end of the vault will create the illusion of an infinite space. seating also made of dekton will sit just outside the space, allowing time for visitors to stop and reflect.

raytrace is a visually powerful demonstration of how cosentino products can be used as architectural elements and interior surfaces

dekton is a large-format, ultra-compact surface that consists of a sophisticated blend of the raw materials that produce the very latest in glass and porcelain as well as the highest quality quartz

the caustic spheres will cause a pattern of dancing rays of light evokes that will evoke a dreamlike state of mind and simulate being underwater

raytrace was exhibited in the historical vaulted warehouses beneath milan’s central train station as part of the third edition of ventura centrale. the iconic backdrop of these arched spaces will house installations by internationally renowned brands and designers, making it a must-see destination during milan design week 2019.

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