A BOOTH WHOSE STRUCTURE IS ENCLOSED YET DISPLAYING VARIOUS GIMMICKS WHICH CORRESPOND TO THE UTILIZATION DECLARE THE OUTSTANDING IMAGE OF A BRAND RENOWNED FOR ITS PREMIUM LAMINATE SURFACES
TEXT: PRATCHAYAPOL LERTWICHA
PHOTO: WORAPAS DUSADEEWIJAI
(For Thai, press here)
The creative process in design fundamentally revolves around evolution and adaptation. Ideas are not static; they expand, retract, and flow with an ever-changing array of new inspirations. This vibrant process is vividly showcased at Architect Expo’ 24, where Formica unveils an exhibition booth pulsating with energy and innovation. Here, creative concepts seem to bubble up, inviting designers and users alike to discover the transformative possibilities of surface materials.
Formica, a venerable brand renowned for its premium laminate surfaces, makes a bold statement with this year’s exhibition booth. Clad in New Burgundy Formica sheets, the design both asserts the brand’s iconic identity and commands attention with its striking red ‘F’ logo. The structure of the booth itself is a study in controlled openness yet remaining enclosed, designed to offer just enough visibility to beckon the curious closer.
Upon entering, the booth unfolds into a landscape of ceaseless motion, with walls that undulate, folding and bending in organic forms. The centerpiece, an ingeniously designed expandable table, physically embodies the principle of adaptability. Each segment is crafted to move in various directions—diagonal, curved, or straight—offering a tangible experience of versatility. These surfaces, graced with patterns from the Formica INCANTO 2024 collection inspired by the natural world, are sheathed in DecoMetal®, a sophisticated laminate innovation that mirrors the aesthetic of polished metal.
The functionality extends beyond the central table to the surrounding movable panels, which conceal an array of cabinets, counters, and built-in features. These elements are thematically aligned with different domestic zones, turning each corner of the booth into a distinct living space. Notably, opposite the reception area, a wardrobe section showcases Formica CORA™, whose core material matches the surface color to create a visually seamless and sleek interface—free from the distraction of seams or joints.
A short distance away, a kitchen counter mockup stands out, featuring FENIX® surfaces in Rosso Namib, dramatically offset by Castoro Ottawa colored panels. In this frequently utilized kitchen setting, FENIX® demonstrates its utility with surfaces that resist fingerprints and can self-repair minor scratches through thermal treatment. The material’s soft, matte finish with minimized light reflection tempts a lingering touch and gaze, making it difficult to turn away from this stunning kitchen setup.
Formica FENIX®
On the opposite side of the kitchen section is the bathroom section finished with INCANTO, distinguished by its beautiful natural-like surface. Although a small bathroom mockup, this model sparks the imagination of being in an INCANTO-finished bathroom to start the day feeling completely refreshed and revitalized.
Formica INCANTO
Despite being a brand established over a century ago, Formica has never stopped developing material innovations to meet increasingly diverse and complex demands. At Architect Expo’ 24, Formica once again showcased material innovation and its striking potential through ingeniously designed booths. Discovering intriguing surface materials, and unleashing your very own design ideas at the Formica booth at Architect Expo’ 24.
Schedule a visit to Formica’s showroom at A Square, Sukhumvit 26 at: https://bit.ly/3sPIhm6