The Cosentino Group Cooperates with the Spain Pavilion in the 2015 Milan Expo

Tags: news and events | 9 years ago | Written by: Cosentino

  •  The multinational company has become a key partner collaborating in the construction and supply of materials for the Spain Pavilion, designed by Fermín Vázquez’s b720 studio.
  • Cosentino has supplied almost 1,000m2 of its Dekton® ultra compact surface in different sizes and finishes, as well as bathroom basins manufactured using its quartz surface Silestone®.
  • One of the most appealing proposals in the Pavilion will be the recreation of the tomato genome in Dekton® slabs, using inkjet printing technology, which will be applied as flooring in the public exhibition areas.

A global leader in the production and distribution of innovative surfaces for architecture and design, The Cosentino Group, has become the first collaborating company for the Spain Pavilion in the 2015 Milan Expo which will be officially opened on 1 May. This cooperation has come about through the agreement reached with Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), the public body responsible for managing Spain’s presence in Universal and International Expositions. 

Image number 32 of the current section of The Cosentino Group Cooperates with the Spain Pavilion in the 2015 Milan Expo in Cosentino UK

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This makes the Almeria-based multinational a key partner of the Spanish proposal for this year’s Universal Expo, through collaborating in the construction and supply of materials for the Spain Pavilion, designed by Fermín Vázquez’s b720 studio.

After the 2010 Expo being held in Shanghai, this year it is Milan’s turn. From 1 May to 31 October, it will be hosting one of this year’s most important events. 144 countries are taking part, and over 20 million people are expected to visit the Universal Expo. It is estimated that the Spanish Pavilion will receive around 2.2 million visitors in total, about 12,000 visitors a day.

Image number 33 of the current section of The Cosentino Group Cooperates with the Spain Pavilion in the 2015 Milan Expo in Cosentino UK

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With the official slogan of “Feeding the planet, Energy for life”, the 2015 Milan Expo wants to be remembered not only for its architecture and activities, but also because of its input towards debate and education regarding nutrition, food and global resources.  The Spanish proposal is based around the slogan “The language of flavour”, which will be projected around two basic concepts: Tradition and Innovation.

The Cosentino Group currently distributes its products in over 80 countries, with its own assets in 26 of these countries. Cosentino is committed to this global impact event and shares the core values and thematic focal points of the Expo and also of Spain’s proposal; Food, cuisine, efficiency in resources, design and technological innovation are also basic signatures of the Almeria-based company’s activity.

Image number 34 of the current section of The Cosentino Group Cooperates with the Spain Pavilion in the 2015 Milan Expo in Cosentino UK

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Dekton®, versatility and many uses for architecture (see attached document)

The Spain Pavilion designed by b720 Fermin Vázquez studio, wishes to be a benchmark for excellence in current Spanish architecture.  With a surface area of over 3,000 m2, the building is inspired by a twin unit greenhouse with a portico shape structure. Its geometry is clear and contained, a merger of the two basic elements to be projected: tradition and innovation. This contrast is also shown in the main spaces of the building: the auditorium or multi-purpose room, the exhibition area, vegetable garden, a restaurant, two bars, the store and workshops.

Cosentino’s materials, mainly Dekton® ultra compact surface, will be present within this building. The Spanish company has supplied almost 1,000m2 of this innovative material for a range of uses and in different sizes and finishes, as well as basins manufactured with the quartz surface Silestone®. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Silestone® was already used extensively in the 1992 Seville Universal Expo, in pavilions such as the ONCE, Arab Emirates and Andalusia pavilions.

Cosentino applies its latest technological innovations to the Spain Pavilion; a pioneering architecture and decorative material showcasing its versatile and diverse properties. Visitors will be able to see Dekton® on the floors of the public space, the exhibition area, multi-purpose room, vegetable garden, and in the workshops and restoration areas. It is also applied on the counter of the tapas bar, of the auditorium bar and VIP area bar, and also on the staircase which provides access to the restaurant on the second floor.

“The tomato genome”, one of the main attractions of the Spain Pavilion

One of the most attractive and innovative interior design proposals to be found in the Pavilion will be the recreation of the tomato genome in the Dekton® slabs which have been applied as flooring in the public exhibition area and space on the ground floor.

Within the context of the “The language of flavour” slogan, Fermín Vázquez architects studio came up with the idea of recreating the tomato genome – one of the most important recent steps taken in the field of biotechnology and scientific research. The tomato genome was sequenced for the first time in 2012, and this was a major step forward in improving the variety of crops and for the future of agriculture.

The b720 studio was strongly in favour of using Dekton® to achieve this stunning design; the Dekton® tables in 2cm Zenith colour were personalised using an inkjet printer with the DNA sequence marked in letters, and the shape of a tomato drawn on a scale of grey colours. Dekton® allows a very high level of customisation in design, making it the perfect combination for designers and architects all over the world. The material can be printed on using an advanced inkjet technology which is unique in the stone industry.