News

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, February 6, 2009 – One of the special experimental exhibits at the Toronto Interior Design Show this week turned conventional design thinking on end.

The Vertebrae, constructed with DuPont^™ Corian^®, took this versatile design material – commonly thought about in horizontal applications, such as countertops – and turned it on end to create an innovative and elegant sculptured couch.   The beauty of the Vertebrae design is further enhanced with the use of embedded lights that create a soft diffuse glow through the Corian^® Illumination Series surface material.

The Vertebrae design was created by Bregman + Hamann Architects (B+H) of Toronto using three-dimensional digital tools.  B+H is one of Canada’s largest and longest established, full-service architecture firms. 

“Each section of Corian^® is attached to the next using a flexible joint, thereby creating the curvaceous, segmented form,” says Douglas Birkenshaw, a Design Leader and Partner at B+H.  “We believe that this technique will ultimately be used to generate a variety of architectural accessories.”

Corian^® is a solid surface material offering superior design possibilities and excellent long-term performance.  All Corian^® colors are GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified^® and GREENGUARD for Children & Schools^SM Certified^®.

“Using Corian^® to create the Vertebrae has proven again how the design possibilities are almost limitless for this unique surface material,” said Nancy Wiskel, Product Manger for Corian^® in Canada.  “With its balance of beauty and performance, Corian^® lends itself to imaginative uses, innovative designs and enduring applications.”

RJW Enterprises fabricated the Vertebrae in Parry Sound, Ontario.

“This project is another example of the unique custom work that we specialize in doing with the design and architectural community,” said Bob Wescott, President of RJW Enterprises.  “Using Corian^® gave us the flexibility we needed to transform the creative and exciting design from B+H into reality.”

The Vertebrae can be seen in Booth 512 of the Collaborations Feature Exhibit at the show.  For more information about Corian^® and DuPont’s other quality Surfaces products, please visit www2.dupont.com/Surfaces/en_US/

DuPont is a science-based products and services company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation. 

The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, and all products denoted with ® or ™, except as noted below, are registered trademarks or trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. DuPont Canada is a licensee.

GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified^® and GREENGUARD for Children & Schools^SM are marks or registered trademarks of GREENGUARD Environmental Institute.

Please use the following URL to download photos of the Vertebrae

The first photo includes the team that led the project.
www2.dupont.com/Media_Center/en_CA/assets/images/Vertebrae_Team.jpg

Photo Caption Information:
The Vertebrae, constructed with DuPont^™ Corian^®, is one of the special experimental exhibits that's been getting a lot of attention at the Toronto Interior Design Show this week. The team that led the project includes: Bob Westcott, President of RJW Enterprises; Nancy Wiskel, Product Manager for Corian^® in Canada (seated); and Douglas Birkenshaw, a Design Leader and Partner at Bregman + Hamann Architects (standing).

The second photo is a close-up of the Vertebrae design.
www2.dupont.com/Media_Center/en_CA/assets/images/Vertebrae_Close_UP_NF.jpg

Photo Caption Information:
The Vertebrae demonstrates the almost limitless possibilities for design using DuPont^™ Corian^®.