Carpets made from palm leather, glass with relief, furniture made from denim waste… During MaterialDistrict Rotterdam 2019 (12-14 March in Rotterdam Ahoy, the Netherlands) the interior designer will fancy themselves in the future! Click here for a free ticket.

With an extensive lecture programme, put together along with ambassadors Niels van Eijk and Miriam van der Lubbe (design studio Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe), a large collection of materials from the independent MaterialDistrict collection and fascinating exhibition pieces, MaterialDistrict Rotterdam is once again a source of inspiration!

Which trends do we see in the sector Interiors?
Between material and observer, between cultures, between nature and culture, between values; dialogue is everywhere. The current material developments have interesting relational meaning. We spend the majority of our time indoors: in our homes, at the office, in a restaurant or at the gym. Which interior offers the right environment to ensure the inhabitant of that environment can perform, enjoy, relax, learn or heal optimally? And which are the best materials, colours and finishes to achieve this?

The most important innovations involve a healthy environment with optimal acoustics, lots of daylight, good air quality, and a lot of green and natural materials that are low maintenance. The interior is flexible, playful, original, sustainable, circular and preferably multifunctional. From constructive bamboo to custom-made cast floors, from particulate matter catching carpets to recycled furniture, from luminescent ceilings to furniture made of seaweed and coffee, and even 3D printed floors and furniture, one thing is clear: the interior of the future will not be dull.

For an interview with ambassadors Niels van Eijk and Miriam van der Lubbe, click here.

Materials from the independent MaterialDistrict collection
During this three-day event, MaterialDistrict will show the newest materials from its independent collection, which were scouted during the past year. A small selection of materials:

Oesterplat (NST109) is a tile collection made from marble and oyster shells, showing their mother-of-pearl shine as contemporary fossils. Mute acoustic panels (PLA1158) are made from recycled PET bottles, which are turned into a soft but strong corrugated felt material. Plastic stone tiles (PLA1182) are the result of an investigation of how lightweight post-consumer plastic packaging could be turned to look like natural stone. Palmleather filigree rug (ONA777) is made of palmleather, a leather-like material made from the fibres of Areca Betel Nut Palm that grows in India. Pressed colour glass (GLA276) is lightly coloured glass combined with coarse relief on one side, resulting in a surface that creates a dynamic play of light.

Large exhibition pieces
MaterialDistrict Rotterdam is for 140 exhibitors the annual platform to present their material innovations with their own presentation at the trade fair floor. Aside from the presentations by exhibitors and the independent material exhibition, several large exhibition pieces – often never shown to the public before – will be exhibited during the trade fair, showing the visitor a glimpse of the future. What can you expect?

Vlisco carpet
Designer Simone Post makes beautiful carpets out of misprints of Vlisco fabric. Vlisco produces wax fabrics, which are exported mainly to the African market. Misprints, however, cannot be sold. Simone makes her carpets with these misprints and other waste fabrics.

Godogan table
This table made from American walnut shows that not everything has to be made fast and cheap. In the top and one of the legs, an Indonesian fairy tale is carved about a frog that transforms into a prince. The table is designed for Droog Design and the Friedman Benda Gallery in New York. The detailed woodcarvings were done by woodcutters in Japara, Indonesia, for a fair salary. The more the customer is willing to pay, the further the fairy tale is carved out in the table and the worker’s salary is increased.

Bahia Denim
Designer Sophie Rowley transforms old denim into new marble-like material. Waste material from the fashion industry is pressed together with adhesive and then shaped into the desired form. The name Bahia Denim is derived from blue Brazilian marble.

Lecture programme Interiors
MaterialDistrict Rotterdam is known for its high-profile lecture programme, which includes renowned (inter)national architects, scientists, designers and other experts. After last year’s success, there will be once more two simultaneous theatre programmes this year, providing a line-up of 60 speakers who will share their knowledge and experience with the audience.

Thursday morning 14 March the lecture programme ‘Interiors’ takes place in the MaterialDistrict theatre. Speakers are, amongst others, ambassador Miriam van der Lubbe (Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe), Jos Stuyfzand (Philips), and Arne Lijbers (Mecanoo). Check the programme here.

Visit us
MaterialDistrict Rotterdam 2019 takes place from Tuesday 12 March until Thursday 14 March, in Rotterdam Ahoy, the Netherlands. For more information and a free ticket, click here.