The immersive Caesarstone x Studio Munge ‘Neo Colosseo' installation pushes the boundaries of traditional product displays and was unveiled at this year's IDS22 event in Toronto. Bringing together the world's top design experts, the event explored a New Futures theme, with focus on innovative materials and sustainability.
Neo Colosseo spotlights Caesarstone's premium materials in a striking and unexpected way, resulting in a walk-through sculpture that stays true to the signature visual language of Alessandro Munge, Studio Munge's Founder & Design Director. "When approached by Caesarstone to design the exhibition, we instantly connected and agreed on the purpose behind the event. It had to go beyond product display and truly represent the brand’s ethos and our studio’s values. Neo Colosseo also had to engage the guests in a more meaningful way. We wanted it to be exciting, uplifting, mesmerising, innovative and connective. We wanted it to be a gift to the design community and celebrate togetherness," said Alessandro when asked about his partnership with Caesarstone.
The designer also spoke about the unique challenges of the activation's key materials, stating he most enjoyed "developing the storyline sandblasted on the façade, collaborating with the exhibition manufacturer Unique to thermoform and bend slabs for the corners, and coming up with the soft gradient and curved cuts in the portal."
When describing the inspiration behind his work, Alessandro sought to capture the soothing and quiet elegance of the Pebbles Collection. "It is represented throughout the exhibition, on the façade and more. We were also inspired by optical art as a bold and dynamic way to immerse the guest, almost hypnotising them, inducing an introspective state of mind, allowing them to leave the noise behind. We also wanted Neo Colosseo to be a multilayered experience where guests could reflect on where they’re at while also learning about the product in an inviting and comfortable setting representative of our hospitality and residential expertise."
The designer also went on to applaud Toronto's design community, describing the next ten years as what he believes to be a coming of age for the city, with more star architects impacting its familiar landscape and skyline.
Stone-Clad Spatial Activations
Caesarstone x Studio Munge's ‘Neo Colosseo' Space Debuted at IDS22
Trend Themes
1. Immersive Activations - The trend towards immersive product displays that push the boundaries of traditional exhibitions creates opportunities for designers and manufacturers to innovate and elevate brand experiences.
2. Innovative Materials - As designers focus on sustainability, the trend towards innovative materials like Caesarstone's premium quartz surfaces offers disruptive opportunities for the construction and interior design industries to create more eco-friendly products.
3. Multilayered Experiences - The trend towards multilayered brand experiences that engage guests in a more meaningful way creates opportunities for businesses to use design elements that are exciting, uplifting, mesmerizing, innovative and connective.
Industry Implications
1. Construction - As eco-consciousness continues to grow, the construction industry has an opportunity to implement innovative materials such as Caesarstone's quartz in sustainable building designs and eco-friendly product development.
2. Interior Design - The trend towards immersive and multilayered brand experiences creates opportunities for interior designers to explore new ways to bring together unique materials and aesthetics to create exciting and engaging spaces.
3. Event Planning - There is an opportunity for event planners to create immersive and interactive experiences for clients that go beyond traditional product displays, leveraging innovative materials and multilayered storytelling techniques in order to better engage guests and create memorable experiences.