DuPont Corian Design Studio
49 West 23rd Street, 3rd Floor
Taking cues from the Japanese concept of a borrowed landscape, New York–based architects Michael Morris and Yoshiko Sato of Morris Sato Studio have created a laboratory for architects and designers to explore Corian, DuPont’s high-end surface material. Located in the Flatiron district, the 5,000-square-foot space was designed to take the material far beyond the luxe countertops for which it is generally known. According to Morris, a series of vignettes “borrow” the outdoor landscape and bring it into the showroom. “By incorporating abstracted references and images from nature into the Corian displays,” he told AN, “we wanted to suggest an alternative flow of time, in syncopation with the city outside.” With displays presenting educational, residential, office, retail, and other applications, the studio showcases everything from walls and ceilings to lighting, hardware, cabinetry, and furniture. To take just one example, Morris Sato designed a translucent, tubular light system made from 74 pieces of thermoformed Corian, which changes color to emphasize the amorphous nature of the space. Along with the product displays, consultants from Evans & Paul will be on hand to provide project support for architects, and discuss new applications, manufacturing techniques, and commercial specifications. The studio is open Monday through Friday, by appointment only.
